The air defense systems provided by the West, namely Patriot and NASAMS, have significantly enhanced Ukraine’s ability to repel attacks by Russian long-range missiles and kamikaze drones, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted in his daily address to Ukrainian citizens following the Supreme Commander-in-Chief’s Staff meeting on 28 November.
During the Staff meeting, the President of Ukraine discussed strengthening fortifications and air defense with the Ukrainian Prime Minister, military command, and regional authorities.
“The first is fortification. We are significantly strengthening it. Our state has enough mines and concrete,” President Zelenskyy said. “Today I also held a separate meeting with the Minister for Strategic Industries of Ukraine, and I can say that it was optimistic. We are preparing, among other things, good long-range weaponry to make the occupiers feel the Ukrainian strength,” Zelenskyy added.
Ukraine’s President noted that the most intense fighting over the last day has taken place on the eastern front, namely in the Avdiivka, Mariinka, and Bakhmut sectors (Donetsk Oblast, eastern Ukraine).
President Zelenskyy thanked the Ukrainian military command for holding the line in the Kupiansk sector of the eastern front (Kharkiv and Luhansk Oblasts), where the Russian army was trying to advance, and discussed Ukrainian actions on the southern front.
Ukraine needs 12 Patriot systems to protect all territory – Zelenskyy staffer
The Staff meeting also analyzed recent Russian attacks against Ukraine and Ukrainian air defense tactics. President Zelenskyy voiced the need to strengthen mobile fire groups to protect Ukrainian cities from Russian drone attacks. He noted that the work of Patriot and NASAMS air defense systems in Ukraine is “very effective” and thanked Western allies of Ukraine for providing these systems.
A US-made MIM-104 Patriot is a surface-to-air missile system manufactured by the US defense contractor Raytheon. Patriot uses an advanced aerial interceptor missile and high-performance radar systems effective against cruise and ballistic missiles. Ukraine currently has just two Patriot systems, one from the US and one from Germany.
An additional Patriot air defense system from Germany will be deployed in Ukraine this winter, German Ambassador to Ukraine Martin Jaeger said in an interview with Ukrinform on 24 November.
NASAMS (Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System) is a short- to medium-range ground-based air defense system developed by the Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and US company Raytheon. The system defends against unmanned aerial vehicles, helicopters, cruise missiles, and fixed-wing aircraft.
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