President Zelenskyy confirms fresh Patriot missile systems from the US as Russian attacks escalate on cities and energy infrastructure
Patriots Arrive to Shield Ukraine
Ukraine has received additional Patriot air defence systems from the United States, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Sunday — a crucial boost to the nation’s defences amid Russia’s relentless bombing campaign.
“These new Patriots are already in Ukraine and being put into operation,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media. He emphasized the need for more systems to protect key infrastructure and cities, adding that the country still faces massive shortages in modern air defence equipment.
The Patriot missile system is among the most advanced tools in Ukraine’s arsenal, capable of intercepting ballistic and cruise missiles that have devastated cities and killed thousands since Russia’s invasion began nearly four years ago.
NATO Steps Up Support
Zelenskyy’s announcement follows months of pleas to Western partners for more sophisticated weapons. While several NATO members — including Germany, Canada, and other European allies — are funding major equipment purchases, delivery delays have persisted due to production limitations and the need for stockpiles among member states.
NATO continues to coordinate large-scale weapons deliveries to bolster Ukraine’s defence network, but the US under President Donald Trump has been slower to supply arms compared to the previous administration of Joe Biden.
Despite these challenges, Western cooperation remains a lifeline for Kyiv as it faces one of its toughest winters yet under bombardment.
Russia Intensifies Attacks
Over the weekend, Russia launched a massive overnight assault involving 12 missiles and 138 drones, according to Ukraine’s air force.
In the Sumy region, a drone strike killed one man and injured five family members, including two children. Another attack injured two women in a separate area. Local officials condemned the strikes as “deliberate attacks on civilians while they slept.”
Further south, Russian missiles ignited fires in Dnipro, injuring one person, while drone strikes in Mykolaiv targeted energy infrastructure, threatening heat and water supplies during the cold season.
Moscow appears to be intensifying efforts to cripple Ukraine’s power grid, disrupt drone production, and weaken industrial output.
Ukraine Strikes Back
Kyiv’s forces responded with long-range strikes on Russia’s Saratov oil refinery, setting the facility ablaze. The refinery, located roughly 500 km from the border, has been targeted four times in under two months — part of Ukraine’s campaign to cut Moscow’s oil refining capacity, which Zelenskyy claims has dropped by 20 percent.
Ukraine also struck Russian logistical hubs in occupied Luhansk, continuing its strategy of deep attacks on supply chains critical to Moscow’s front-line operations.
Meanwhile, Russian troops claimed new gains in Pokrovsk, a key transport and logistics hub in eastern Ukraine, though Kyiv insists its defenders continue to hold vital positions.
A Critical Moment in the War
The arrival of Patriot air defence systems marks a turning point for Ukraine’s defensive capabilities, even as Russian attacks grow more destructive. These systems offer hope for greater protection of civilians and infrastructure — but Zelenskyy’s message is clear: Ukraine still needs more help.
As both sides intensify strikes, the conflict remains far from over — and the fight for control of Ukraine’s skies could determine the course of the war in the months ahead.
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