To secure Ukrainian cities from Russia attacks, we need 25 Patriot-type air defense systems, said the spokesman for the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Ilya Yevlash, at a briefing at the Ukraine Media Center.
"Ukraine needs 25 Patriot-type air defense systems that could protect our cities from Russian attacks. Of course, we lack many other means that could cover the airspace. Portable complexes are also necessary, which are used by mobile fire groups," Yevlash said.
According to him, there is a need to build a whole system of air defense, deeply echeloned, which will include air defense systems of small, medium, and large radius of action with the support of fighter aviation.
"If we talk about small complexes, these are primarily air defense systems of the Ground Forces, such as 'Krotal', 'Avenger', 'Cheetah', which have proven to be quite effective. There was talk of transferring us 'Sky Net' installations - these are so-called drone interceptors. Medium-range systems include IRIS-T, NASAMS, and other means that will allow us to cover cities and destroy missiles and drones. And for large radius of action - Patriot and SAMP/T," said the spokesman for the Air Force.
For nighttime attacks, according to him, the Russian forces used almost all available missile forces and means, including aviation missiles such as Kh-59 and Kh-47 Kinzhal'
"Tonight, 9 strategic bombers TU-95MS took off, which operated from Olenegorsk, Olenya airfield. They launched Kh-101 and Kh-555 missiles in the Saratov region. 20 missiles were launched by the Russian forces, 16 of which we managed to eliminate by the efforts of the anti-aircraft missile units of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Also, MiG-31K aircraft were raised into the air, which are carriers of hypersonic weapons, missiles of the Kh-47 'Kinzhal' type. This is a fairly powerful weapon. Unfortunately, we are not yet able to fully repel such attacks because we need means that have already repeatedly demonstrated their effectiveness and we have already used them, namely Patriot-type air defense systems. They are extremely necessary for us today to counter such combined attacks," Yevlash said.
According to him, the Russian forces also used aviation missiles of the Kh-59 type.
"Four such missiles were launched, two of which were successfully shot down by our air defense forces, and another 40 unmanned aerial vehicles, which distracted attention at the moment when the S-300 and S-400 missile systems were delivering powerful fire strikes," the spokesman for the Air Force said.
As reported, the Air Defense destroyed 57 air targets out of 82 launched during the night and morning: 18 missiles and 40 strike drones.
