Ukraine updates: Germany to send additional Patriot system

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country needs 25 US Patriot systems

The German government said Saturday it would send an additional Patriot missile system to help Ukraine’s military fend off increased Russian airstrikes.

Kyiv relies heavily on Western Patriot systems as it does not have sophisticated air defenses of its own.

Ukraine’s commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky has warned the conditions on the eastern front had “deteriorated significantly” in recent days as Russian forces stepped up their attacks.

Meanwhile, Russia said it had captured a village near the eastern Ukrainian town of Avdiivka.

Here’s a look at the latest on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for Saturday, April 13.

Germany announces new Patriot missile system to Ukraine

Germany will send an additional Patriot air defense system to Ukraine, the German Federal Ministry of Defense said Saturday.

“Due to the increase in Russian airstrikes against Ukraine, the German government has decided to further strengthen Ukrainian air defense,” a statement from the ministry said.

Ukraine has received several air defense systems during the first two years of war, including the US-made Patriot system to help defend against Russian drone and cruise missile attacks.

Kyiv says it needs 25 Patriot units total to cover the country — and at least seven urgently, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

On Friday, the US said it would sell Ukraine up to $138 million (€129.3 million) of equipment to maintain and upgrade its HAWK air defense systems.

Washington began shipping HAWK interceptor missiles to Ukraine in 2022 as an upgrade to the shoulder-launched Stinger air defense missile systems — a smaller, shorter-range system.

mm/wd (Reuters, AP, AFP, dpa)