KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine’s government has authorised energy, communications and transport companies to purchase and use air defence equipment to improve their effectiveness in combating Russian air attacks, defence minister Denys Shmyhal said on Wednesday.
Russia has significantly intensified its air strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure, focusing on energy, transport and facilities that support the functioning of cities.
“Enterprises will be able to purchase or receive air defence equipment by decision of the military command or through supply procedures agreed with the Ministry of Defence,” Shmyhal said on the Telegram messenger.
He said the air defence groups at enterprises would act solely on the orders of the military, would receive information from the military, and that the members of the groups would be vetted by the national security service.
The groups will consist of “proven employees of enterprises”, he noted, saying that the decision will make civil air defence more effective and protect strategically important facilities from threats.
(Reporting by Pavel PolityukEditing by Bill Berkrot)
