The third Patriot anti-aircraft system promised by Germany in April arrived in Kiev today to help repel Russian bombings, the German embassy in Kiev announced today.
Ukrainians have been pressing their Western allies for new, modern air defense systems to protect them from Russian strikes that in recent months have targeted power plants or military airports.
JUST IN — Let the Botschafter in Ukraine have Germany as the official nun of the 3rd German Patriot System and Ukraine be released! Ukraine now has four complete Patriot-Fuereinheiten im Einsatz. Three from Germany, one from the USA
– @BrennpunktUA (@BrennpunktUA) July 5, 2024
“Germany’s third Patriot air defense system has arrived in Ukraine. It will strengthen the protection of the country’s population and infrastructure,” German Ambassador Martin Jaeger said in a post on the X platform. “The Ukrainian team (which will take over the operation of the system) has been successfully trained in Germany in recent months,” he added.
“Good news”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the “wonderful news.” In June, Zelensky said his country needed at least seven modern Patriot anti-aircraft systems, two of which would take over the protection of Kharkiv, an area often targeted by Russian forces.
In addition to Germany, Romania has also promised to send a set of Patriot missiles to Ukraine, and Italy has promised to send a Franco-Italian-made Samp-T system.