Ukraine Orders 1,000 Patriot Missiles, but Most Will Not Help This Winter

Ukraine has begun to order about 1,000 Patriot air-defence missiles, said Yevhenii Khmara, Ukraine's defence minister, on Tuesday. These missiles shoot down enemy aircraft and rockets. But most of the 1,000 missiles will arrive only in the coming years, so Khmara asked allied countries to send missiles from their own supplies now.

Germany was the first to answer. It will send PAC-2 interceptors, a type of Patriot missile, from the Bundeswehr, Germany's armed forces. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius asked other countries to check their own supplies and choose to help Ukraine. Britain promised £100 million to buy air-defence equipment for Ukraine, including Patriot missiles and drones. The European Commission said Ukraine can also use the next €3.2 billion from an EU loan for Patriot equipment.

Ukraine says it needs 300 Patriot interceptors to protect the country through the winter. The need is urgent because Russia attacked Kyiv with drones and missiles again on Tuesday. Five people were killed in the capital. Khmara said Russia is not moving forward on the ground, so it is attacking civilians instead. Ukraine also does not have the $27 billion it needs to buy drones.

So the 1,000 missiles are an important promise for the future, but the danger is now. That is why Ukraine is asking allied countries to send what they already have.