John Kirby, strategic communications coordinator for the US National Security Council, did not confirm the information about the alleged damage to the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system (SAM) during the shelling of Ukraine by Russian invaders. About this May 16 informed on Twitter, Voice of America journalist Ostap Yarysh.
“I can’t confirm reports of damage to the Patriot system in Ukraine. I just can’t talk about it. But if there was damage, in connection with which it would be necessary to repair outside Ukraine, we would definitely help in this,” he said. Kirby at the briefing.
War of Russia against Ukraine. Main (updated)
Today CNN quoted an unnamed U.S. official as saying that the Patriot system was “probably damaged but not destroyed” by Russian shelling on May 16. Allegedly, the United States is “still assessing the amount of damage” in order to decide whether to completely turn off the air defense system or it can be repaired “on the spot.”
The Russian Defense Ministry said on May 16 that they allegedly hit a Patriot SAM system with a Kinzhal missile.
The speaker of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Yuriy Ignat, said in response: “We will not comment on the statement of the Ministry of Defense of the enemy state, I will not say anything else.”
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on May 16, the Ukrainian defense forces shot down 25 missiles out of 27 fired by Russian invaders. Among them are six “Daggers” and nine “Caliber”, as well as S-400 and “Iskander-M”.
To date, three countries have promised Patriot systems to Ukraine: the United States, Germany, and the Netherlands.
Since the beginning of the year, Ukrainian servicemen have been learning how to operate these air defense systems in the USA, Germany and the Netherlands.
In March, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine needed 20 Patriot systems, but they might not be enough to counter Russian aggression.
On April 19, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported that they received the Patriot air defense system.
On April 21, Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mykola Oleshchuk said that the first Patriot air defense system had taken up combat duty in the air defense system. On April 27, the second Patriot took up combat duty.
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2023-05-16 19:23:05
