Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on 14 April in the national telemarathon that the possibility of covering western Ukrainian regions with Polish Patriot air defense systems is real.
Russia has increased the size and the scale of the attacks on Ukraine since last month, targeting mostly Ukraine’s energy and electricity infrastructure in eastern frontline oblasts, Kyiv, and western Lviv Oblast. The strikes are causing power outages in some cities, as Ukraine lacks air defense systems and cannot fully cover the air.
When Russian missiles were reaching the western Ukrainian border with Poland, Polish Operational Command activated its defense systems. On the morning of 24 March, during the Russian night attack on Ukraine, one cruise missile flew into Polish air space and stayed there for 39 seconds. Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Szejna said on 26 March that NATO is considering shooting down Russian missiles when they are heading towards the territory of the North Atlantic Alliance.
Ukraine’s FM said that Poland could help destroy Russian missiles headed to Ukraine’s western oblasts. “Everything is real now. This would protect NATO countries from ‘arrivals’ of Russian missiles or drones on their territories,” the minister said.
Ukraine would be able to shoot down Russian missiles by itself if has enough air defense systems. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry found over 100 available Patriots that its allies have. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine needs 26 to create a total air shield over Ukraine, but “Kuleba is initially focused on obtaining seven as quickly as possible.”
According to Kuleba, all Patriot batteries depend on the decision of the United States. He emphasized that Ukraine “knows exactly where everything is located.”
“When we sit behind closed doors, I literally tell all partners: my dear ones, anything you want, if you want to lease, let’s lease, if you want it to cover your border, let it cover your border, but give it,” Kuleba said.
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