Zelenskyy comments on how many Patriot systems are needed to protect Ukraine
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Ukraine is to receive 25 Patriot systems with 6-8 batteries each to be able to protect its skies from Russian missile attacks, Zelenskyy states.
"I won't tell you how many Patriot systems we have, but I can tell you that to completely cover Ukraine for the future, it is preferable for Ukraine to have 25 Patriot systems with 6-8 batteries each. All of our partners are already well aware of this and even know the points where the appropriate systems should be located," Zelenskyy said.
According to him, Ukraine would also benefit from Patriot analogs. Despite the fact that there are a rather small number of them, they work.
Zelenskyy says that the results of air defense in Ukraine are impressive, and it looks like there are actually a large number of systems. However, this is not the case.
"Therefore, in order to completely cover our country, even those regions where no missiles fly, we need 25 Patriot systems," he emphasized.
Patriot air defense systems for Ukraine
In late February, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the transfer of ten Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine would dramatically affect the situation in the war with Russia.
Earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba noted that the country needs Patriot anti-aircraft systems and other air defense systems designed to protect life.
Also on April 4, at a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council, Kuleba said that Germany would initiate an immediate search for all Patriot batteries and other air defense systems available not only among allies but also in the world in order to transfer them to Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister also noted that the main message during the meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council at the level of foreign ministers in Brussels will be the provision of air defense systems to Kyiv. In particular, this refers to Patriot.
