News Feed, Ukraine, Germany, Air defense, IRIS-T, Defense aid, Military aid, European allies, Western aid

German defense minister: Ukraine receives another Iris-T air defense system from Germany

by Kateryna Hodunova May 25, 2024 12:20 AM 2 min read

A trade visitor looks at a Diehl IRIS-T SLS anti-aircraft weapon system at the ILA International Aerospace Exhibition on June 22, 2022, in Brandenburg, Germany. (Wolfgang Kumm/picture alliance via Getty Images)

This audio is created with AI assistance

Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight.

Kyiv received another Iris-T air defense system from Berlin on May 24, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius confirmed it on X.

"We have once again delivered Iris-T SLM and Iris-T SLS combined fire unit to Ukraine – a highly modern and well-proven medium and short-range air defense system, directly from German industry production," Pistorius said.

Ukraine has asked international partners to deliver more air defense in the wake of a shortage and an increase in Russian strikes targeting energy infrastructure since March.

Berlin previously provided IRIS-T air defense systems to Ukraine, including three IRIS-T SLM systems, with a range of up to 40 kilometers, and one IRIS-T SLS, with a range of up to 12 kilometers.

According to Der Spiegel, Germany pledged to send Ukraine nine Iris-T SLM and eleven Iris-T SLS systems produced by German Diehl Defense.

"Together with the recently delivered Patriot system, we are strengthening the Ukrainian air defense in its fight against Russia's brutal war, which violates international law," the minister added.

Pistorius said in mid-May that Berlin would supply Ukraine with an additional Patriot air defense system without specifying a delivery date.

Since then, there have been no official announcements on further Patriot system provisions.

Initially a hesitant partner, Berlin has become Ukraine's second-largest military donor after the U.S. However, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is still reluctant to supply some key capabilities, namely Taurus long-range missiles.

According to Zelensky, Ukraine needs 25 Patriots to protect the country from Russian attacks. Air defense systems like the Patriot and the IRIS-T are highly effective at intercepting Russia's ballistic and cruise missiles.

Author: Kateryna Hodunova

Before you skip this banner, we want to tell you something…

The Kyiv Independent doesn’t depend on a wealthy owner or an oligarch — in 2023, 80% of our revenue was from reader contributions . It’s thanks to them that we don’t have to rely on a single owner.

Support us now and help maintain our independent model and keep our articles free for everyone. Your contributions allow us to cover journalists’ salaries, report from the front lines, and fund projects like our War Crimes Investigations Unit.

Comments

News Feed

3:30 AM

Putin may be permitted to attend second peace summit despite arrest warrant, Swiss president says.

Russian President Vladimir Putin may be permitted to attend a potential second global peace summit, despite an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued against him, Swiss President Viola Amherd told reporters on June 16.

12:47 AM

Over 2,750 Ukrainian convicts released to join army, WP reports.

Since Ukraine's new conscription law took effect, over 2,750 prisoners have been released from detention to join the Ukrainian military, the Washington Post reported on June 16.

12:00 AM

Ukraine grid operator: Lengthy power outages expected until end of July.

Ukrainians will face lengthy, daily interruptions in electricity until the end of July as scheduled repairs at nuclear power plants put further strain on the country's already heavily damaged energy system, the head of grid operator Ukrenergo Volodymyr Kudritsky said.

10:34 PM

Zelensky's office outlines next steps for diplomatic effort after peace summit.

Ministers and advisors of various countries will hold further meetings on the three points of Ukraine's peace plan discussed at the peace summit in Burgenstock, Switzerland on June 15-16, the Ukrainian Presidential Office said.

9:14 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Over 80 states, organizations sign Ukraine peace summit’s joint communique

8:54 PM

Russian airstrike on Kharkiv village injures pregnant woman, teen boy, 59-year-old.

Russian airstrikes on the village of Piski Radkivski in Kharkiv Oblast on June 16 injured a 33-year-old pregnant woman, a 13-year-old boy, and a 59-year-old man, local authorities reported.

8:43 PM

Ghana president says Africa 'greatest victim' of Russian invasion's consequences outside Europe.

Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo spoke about how Russia’s invasion has decreased food security in poor countries in his closing statement at Ukraine’s peace summit in Switzerland. “The consequences of the invasion go far beyond the confines of Europe. Indeed in many ways, Africa has been the greatest victim,” he said.

6:47 PM

Austria allocates additional $10.7 million in humanitarian aid for Ukrainians.

Austria allocated an additional 10 million euros ($10.7 million) to humanitarian organizations helping Ukrainians in Ukraine and Moldova, the country's government announced on June 15.

6:32 PM

Canada announces $38 million in further aid to Ukraine.

Canada will provide Ukraine with 52.4 million Canadian dollars ($38.1 million) in various aid, the Canadian government announced on June 16 amid the global peace summit in Switzerland.

5:45 PM

Chilean president vows to support Ukraine peace efforts at Switzerland summit.

Chilean President Gabriel Boric pledged to continue supporting "the process of achieving peace (in Ukraine) and preventing other conflicts" and called for Kyiv-Moscow negotiations in his remarks on June 16 following the global peace summit in Switzerland.

3:39 PM

78 countries, 4 European institutions sign peace summit’s joint communique.

The countries notably absent from the list of signatories include India, Armenia, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Indonesia, Bahrain, Colombia, South Africa, Thailand, Mexico, and the United Arab Emirates.

2:38 PM

Finnish president urges China to convince Russia to end war in Ukraine.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb called on Beijing to use its influence over Russian President Vladimir Putin to help end the war in Ukraine, reported Finnish media outlet Yle on June 15.

2:31 PM

Prosecutor’s Office: Russian attack in Donetsk Oblast injures 7, including 2 children.

Russian forces struck the village of Nova Poltavka near Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast, wounding seven people, including two children, the regional prosecutor’s office reported on June 16.

1:00 PM

Russian proposals not discussed at Swiss peace summit, Scholz says.

Group of Seven (G7) leaders did not entertain Russian President Vladimir Putin's peace proposals for its war in Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said during the Ukraine peace summit, the Guardian reported on June 16.

12:47 PM

China likely skipped Ukraine's peace summit at Putin's request, Sullivan says.

Beijing likely opted out of Ukraine's peace summit at the request of Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on June 15, according to the Associated Press.

12:04 PM

Trump threatens to cut off aid to Ukraine 'prior to taking the White House as president-elect.'

Former U.S. President and presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump voiced strong criticism of American aid to Ukraine at a campaign rally in Detroit on June 15.

10:25 AM

Russian attacks across Ukraine kill 3, injure 6 over past day.

Russia targeted a total of nine Ukrainian oblasts — Chernihiv, Sumy, Poltava, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, and Donetsk. Casualties were reported in the latter two regions.

9:23 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 526,310 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,160 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

6:03 AM

Reuters: Draft summit declaration urges respect for Ukraine's territorial integrity.

"In particular, we reaffirm our commitment to refraining from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state," the document says.

4:57 AM

Russia not interested in all-for-all POW exchange, Ukraine's ombudsman says.

"If the Russians were interested in returning their prisoners of war, we would have done it long ago. It seems that they simply do not need them," Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said on June 15.

3:27 AM

Kremlin bots spam internet with fake celebrity quotes against Ukraine.

Fake quotes appeared over photos of celebrities such as Scarlett Johansson and Elton John, calling to end aid to Ukraine and describing European collapse.

2:29 AM

United Russia party secretary resigns.

The move is regarded as a demotion initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who appointed Andrei Turchak earlier this month to serve as governor of the Altai Republic in southern Siberia.

1:14 AM

Zelensky meets leaders of Argentina, Kenya on sidelines of global peace summit.

President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Argentine President Javier Milei and Kenyan President William Ruto to discuss bilateral cooperation, trade, and food security.

12:32 AM

Peace summit would yield more results with Russia present, Turkish FM says.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called the talks "a glimmer of hope to start with" but said they "could have been more result-oriented" if Russia had attended.

12:00 AM

Zelensky: Russia launches 3,500 missiles a month on civilian targets, infrastructure.

President Volodymyr Zelensky referred to the KAB missiles, Russian precision-guided weapons used to strike front-line settlements. Zelensky said that the missiles are used on civilian targets to force citizens to flee cities and villages in preparation for Russian occupation.

MORE NEWS

German defense minister: Ukraine receives another Iris-T air defense system from Germany

Most popular

News Feed

Editors' Picks

Subscribe

Subscribe

Subscribe