Washington is planning to suspend all open orders for Patriot air defense systems and interceptor missiles until Ukraine receives enough to defend itself from Russian attacks, the Financial Times (FT) reported on June 20, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter.
Russian drone attacks in the early hours of June 20 damaged energy infrastructure in Vinnytsia, Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk oblasts, reported state-owned energy operator Ukrenergo.
According to Blick, Bern has an order totalling $340 million with Washington for the PAC-3 variant of the missile.
The Frankenstein air defense tank consists of an advanced German Skyranger anti-aircraft gun mounted on a Leopard 1 battle tank. The system can shoot down both drones and missiles, according to The Telegraph.
According to the statement, the Ukrainian military recently hit several S-300, S-350, and S-400 air defense systems. Ukraine also struck more than 15 radar stations and over 10 control centers stationed in the Russian-occupied peninsula.
The statement came shortly after the New York Times reported that the U.S. is planning to deliver another Patriot system to Ukraine. The outlet claimed that this should concern a system placed in Poland, which Warsaw denied.
The recent string of Ukrainian strikes against occupied Crimea may help degrade Russian air defenses in the area and decrease the threat to Ukrainian tactical aviation, said Federico Borsari, a Leonardo Fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), in a comment for the Kyiv Independent on June 12.
Russian forces have installed their latest S-500 air defense system in occupied Crimea, Ukraine's military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said on June 12.
The ministry said that 125 million euros ($134 million) of that sum would be devoted to the re-procurement of Patriot missiles for Ukraine under a German-led initiative.
Berlin will send an additional 68 Patriot missiles to Ukraine, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said during a joint press conference with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, on June 11.
Key developments on June 10: * Ukraine hit Russian S-400, S-300 systems in occupied Crimea overnight, General Staff says * Ukraine refutes Kadyrov's claims about captured Sumy Oblast border village * Russia uses submarines to patrol Black Sea after naval losses, military says * Nearly 20,000 Wagner mercenaries died taking Bakhmut, media investigation
Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal discussed Ukraine-Netherlands joint defense production, the exchange of technologies, the upcoming global peace summit in Switzerland, and Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration.
Ukraine intercepted five missiles and 48 out of the 53 drones over Kherson, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Kharkiv, and Khmelnytskyi oblasts.
Russia struck Ukraine's city of Dnipro with missiles overnight on June 4, causing fire, Governor Serhii Lysak said. At least eight civilians, including a one-month-old baby and a 17-year-old boy, were injured in the attack.
Ukraine has asked international partners to deliver more air defense in the wake of an increase in Russian strikes targeting energy infrastructure since March, and devastating aerial attacks in Kharkiv Oblast.
Ukrainian air defenses shot down 24 of the 25 attack drones launched by Russia overnight on June 2, the Air Force said in its morning update.
Romania is considering equipping Ukraine with advanced Patriot defense systems to counter Russian attacks. However, President Klaus Iohannis clarified that such a decision would require an approval from an autonomous administrative authority responsible for coordinating national defense and security activities.
During the night of May 31, Kyiv was targeted by a Russian missile attack. All missiles were successfully intercepted and destroyed by anti-aircraft defense.
Vilnius will provide Kyiv with mobile air surveillance radars, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda announced.
Air defense is a "major part of the plan to defend eastern Europe from invasion," a NATO diplomat told the Financial Times. "And right now, we don't have that."
Ukrainian air defenses shot down 13 of the 14 Shahed-type attack drones launched during a Russian attack overnight on May 29, according to Ukraine's Air Force Commander, Mykola Oleshchuk.
The Netherlands has identified which partners could contribute parts and ammunition from their own stocks and called on them to contribute.
Russia typically uses laser-guided or satellite-guided KAB bombs, with payloads ranging from 250 to 1,500 kilograms, against Ukrainian military and civilian targets.
"These systematic Russian crimes against civilians and civilian infrastructure stress again the need for Europe to urgently ramp up support for air defense."
After a Russia strike that killed at least four and injured at least 38, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called on Ukraine's partners to "provide Ukraine with additional air defense and support for Ukrainian strikes on military targets in Russia" in a post on X on May 25.
"This is a completely new thing —a drone border from Norway to Poland, the purpose of which would be to protect our border with the help of drones and other technologies," said Lithuanian Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite.
"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," Boris Pistorius said.
It is reportedly the sixth Russian Su-25 jet that Ukraine has shot down this month.
"We stand with and support Ukraine as long as necessary," said Norwegian Defense Minister Bjorn Arild Gram.
"This heinous attack must remind everyone around the world that Ukraine still urgently needs seven 'Patriot' systems," Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on X, thanking Germany for pledging an additional system last month.
"This issue is being considered from a legal and technical point of view, but there are no decisions in this matter," Polish Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Pawel Wronski said.
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis stated that supplying a Patriot system to Ukraine must be approved by the Supreme Council of National Defense, and must not compromise Romania's air defense.
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