Ukraine is a step closer to securing its skies with two Patriot air defense system launchers from Germany.
“It will definitely save thousands of lives of our people,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly address on Wednesday, Aug. 9. “It will definitely bring us closer to creating a full-fledged sky shield for Ukraine. This will help people, cities and villages.”
Ukraine is under daily bombardment from Russian missile and drone attacks and Patriot missiles have undoubtedly saved many lives.
On May 4, Ukraine reported that using the Patriot, it brought down Russian hypersonic Kinzhal missiles not far from the capital.
Due to their high cost, Patriots are used against missile attacks, but not drone attacks. The total cost for a Patriot missile defense battery is about $1.1 billion: $400 million for the system and $690 million for the missiles. Each Patriot missile shot costs about $4 million.
In April, Kyiv had already received one Patriot launcher from Germany and one from the US.
Meanwhile, Raytheon plans to deliver five more systems by the end of 2024.
“I thank Germany and Mr. Chancellor (Olaf Scholz) personally for fulfilling this agreement,” Zelensky said.
Along with the Patriot missiles, Germany is providing Ukraine with other military equipment including Leopard tanks, Bandvagn all-terrain vehicles, ammunition, first-aid kits, and much more.
On VE Remembrance Day
According to the Kiel Institute’s Ukraine Support Tracker, with its €7.5 billion ($8.5 billion) for Ukraine, in absolute terms, Germany is second only to the US in its support of Ukraine.
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Comments (2)
Strategic patience is a tactic open to those with limitless supplies of time, budgets and experienced soldiers. Unfortunately tge latter resource Ukraine does NOT have, whereas Russia does.
Putin therefore calculates he can win by 2026.
Strategically bankrupt Slo Joe has not yet realised he has to pull his finger out and meet a deadline of mid 2024 to fully enable if Ukraine to defeat Russia.
A longer term supply of fully trained and experienced Ukrainian soldiers might be impossible.
I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
At this rate it should only take another twenty three years to get the fifty Patriot systems we need to sufficiently defend our skies.
Still NOTHING meaningful (F16's OR in germany's case Tranche 1 Typhoon jets for example) to help us win this war, which the West constantly demands "progress" and miracles and hollywood won in thirty minutes or less movies.
@Joseph Swanson, If Biden and Sholz grew some balls and simply released ATACMS, Taurus and F16’s NOW NOT LATER then Ukrainians could easily win the war stop the bloodshed save the World and shut down Putin for good by his own nasty gang. It is TRAGIC how pathetically intimidated Biden and Sholz are by this weak cowardly bully Putin.
Biden proved his metal abandoning Afghanistan the way he did. He of all people now seriously needs to redeem himself. Biden thinks he’s being tough refusing to release ATACMS and delaying F16’s. He’s not tough. He’s an idiot.
@MARK SZASZY, Agree with you. Its annoying that Ukrainian troops are being expected to perform operations the US army would not consider without air support or missile suppression, What is the West afraid off ?
@MARK SZASZY, not
@Joseph Swanson, Totally agree. It's a foolish policy that is also wasting the equipment that does get sent while giving Russia time to organise defences,
@olz, The most serious and irreplaceable waste are the experienced soldiers . That is a finite resource that cannot wait until slo Joe gets up to speed.