Zelenskyy's presidential advisor says without more fighter jets and long-range missiles from the West it's easy for Russia to 'torture' Ukraine's troops

• Zelenskyy's presidential advisor said without more air support, Russia can easily "torture" Ukraine.
• He also criticized Western leaders who say Ukraine doesn't need fighter jets or long-range missiles.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said on Twitter on Tuesday that without more fighter jets and long-range missiles, it's easy for Russian forces to "torture" Ukraine.

After another round of Russian air strikes in Kyiv — including Russia's so-called "unstoppable" Kinzhal missiles, which Ukraine says it shot down along with 12 other missiles — Podolyak said Russia attacked Ukraine with "mocking laughter."

"The eighth May attempt by the 'Putin's clan' to massively attack Kyiv," he said on Twitter. "And such a mocking laughter with a Russian accent behind the scenes: 'Right, Ukraine does not need aviation and long-range missiles. It's easier for us to torture them.'"

Podolyak's tweet also appears to criticize Western leaders who have previously said Ukraine doesn't need fighter jets and long-range missiles.

He seemed to confirm this in a series of texts with The Washington Post, saying his criticism was directed at "those partners who still believe" those weapons "will lead to escalation."

Rather, he told the Post, the lack of fighter jets and long-range missiles "leads to an aggravation of the conflict and an increase in deaths."

"Let's be honest," Podolyak said to the Post. "Every time Russia demonstratively attacks Ukrainian cities, it sends certain messages to our partners."

While Podolyak didn't name any specific Western authorities, the Biden administration has repeatedly rejected Zelenskyy's requests for F-16 fighter jets.