Ukraine orders nearly 1,000 Patriot missiles, defense minister says
Photo: Ukrainian Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara (facebook.com/zelenskyy.official)
Ukraine has signed contracts to purchase Patriot missiles using partners' funds and an EU loan. At the same time, Kyiv has asked its allies for additional support, Ukrainian Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara said at the 36th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.
Ukraine is purchasing Patriot missiles
Khmara noted that ensuring Ukraine’s resilience requires air defense solutions.
"We are contracting for around 1,000 missiles for Patriot systems with the help of our partners and through an EU loan. We are grateful to you for this," he said.
However, most of these missiles will begin to be delivered later, so Khmara appealed to Ukraine’s partners.
"Therefore, we ask you to provide us with missiles from your stocks today in exchange for the advanced missiles that will be delivered under our future contracts," he said.
Delivery of other weapons
The defense minister also stressed the importance of supplying air-to-air missiles and man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) for combat operations, including to counter jet-powered Shaheds and, temporarily, cruise missiles and jet-powered Shaheds.
"I would also like to add that, together with dozens of other Ukrainian companies, we are finding low-cost solutions to intercept jet-powered Shaheds. Some interceptors are already undergoing combat trials," the minister noted.
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that allies at the September 8 Ramstein meeting had pledged to purchase more US-made Patriot air defense systems for Ukraine and send missiles from their own stocks.
It was also reported that the EU had approved funding for the purchase of Patriot missiles for Ukraine. The purchases will be made under a €90 billion loan program.
In addition, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius called on partners to help Kyiv prepare for winter and defend against Russian air attacks.
