Ukraine is contracting a supply of approximately 1,000 Patriot missiles over the coming years, with assistance from allies and an EU loan, according to Kyiv’s defence minister, Yevhenii Khmara. Germany announced it is “urgently” sending part of its Patriot PAC-2 interceptor stockpile to Ukraine. German defence minister Boris Pistorius appealed to other supporters of Ukraine to examine their own stocks for similar deliveries.
Before a defence contact group meeting, the UK committed £100m to enhance Ukraine’s air defences. This funding will be used to purchase US military equipment, including Patriot interceptors, large-calibre ammunition, and drones.
Khmara emphasised that the majority of the 1,000 missiles would only begin shipping in the coming years, requesting immediate supplies from existing stockpiles. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen stated that Ukraine could allocate the next €3.2bn (£2.7bn; US$3.7bn) disbursement from the EU’s support loan towards Patriot missiles. Ukraine has indicated a need for 300 Patriot interceptors to sustain its defence through the winter.
Separately, Russia resumed drone and missile attacks on Kyiv, with officials reporting five fatalities in the capital and more in other regions. Ukraine’s Third Army Corps reportedly liberated over 200 square kilometres of territory near Lyman in the Donetsk region.