Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the arrival of additional US-made Patriot air defense systems, a major boost to Ukraine’s air defense capabilities as Russian forces continue to intensify their aerial bombardment of cities and critical infrastructure across the country.

In a strategic move to counter Russia’s relentless missile and drone attacks in the nearly four-year-long war, Patriot missile systems stand out as vital assets for Ukraine. Considered among the most advanced air defense weapons in the world, these systems are capable of intercepting aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones with exceptional precision.

🛡️ “More Patriots Are Now in Ukraine” — Zelenskyy

“More Patriots are now in Ukraine and being put into operation,” Zelenskyy announced on his official social media channels. Despite the significant addition, he urged allies to send more systems:

“More systems are needed to protect key infrastructure and our cities across the entire territory of our state.”

The US and NATO member states have been coordinating the delivery of military support to Ukraine, with European countries and Canada purchasing American-manufactured equipment under a collective defense strategy. However, delivery of Patriots has faced setbacks due to limited global supply and increased international demand.

🔄 Shift in US Policy Under Trump’s Administration

Unlike the previous administration under US President Joe Biden, the current administration led by Donald Trump has shown less urgency in supplying advanced military hardware to Kyiv. This shift has raised concerns among Ukrainian officials, especially as Russian attacks grow more aggressive.

🚨 Recent Russian Attacks: Civilian Areas in the Crosshairs

In the last 24 hours, Russia launched a barrage of 12 missiles and over 138 drones, including decoy units, aimed at multiple regions across Ukraine. Devastating attacks in the northeastern Sumy region involved drone strikes that killed one man and injured five members of his family, including two young children.

• Additional drone attacks injured two women in the same region.
• Russian missiles struck an industrial site in Dnipro, igniting a large fire and wounding another civilian.
• Energy infrastructure in the southern Mykolaiv region was also hit, part of an ongoing Russian strategy to cripple Ukrainian power grids during the freezing winter months.

As temperatures begin to drop, Russia’s campaign to destroy critical infrastructure, including water, heating, and electricity supply systems, has intensified. Ukrainian-made drones and missile production sites have also become frequent targets in an effort to derail Ukraine’s growing long-range strike capabilities.

🔥 Ukraine Strikes Back: Refineries and Logistics Hubs Hit

In response, Ukraine has carried out long-range strikes deep inside Russian territory. The Ukrainian military confirmed it targeted Russia’s Saratov oil refinery—approximately 500km (300 miles) from the Ukrainian border—causing a major fire and temporarily halting operations. This marks the fourth such attack on the refinery in less than two months.

President Zelenskyy recently claimed that these attacks have successfully reduced Russia’s overall oil refining capacity by 20 percent, potentially weakening Moscow’s military supply chain.

In newly occupied regions like Luhansk, Ukraine reports striking Russian logistical hubs and ammunition dumps, destroying key supply lines that feed frontline operations.

⚔️ Battle for Pokrovsk Intensifies

On the ground, Russian forces continue to advance near the strategic city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine. Pokrovsk serves as a major transportation and logistics center, and its capture has been a key objective for Russian forces for over a year.

According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, Moscow’s troops have now reached the city’s Prigorodny district and claim to have surrounded Ukrainian defenders near a key railway corridor. Ukrainian officials have yet to confirm these developments but have acknowledged intensified fighting in the area.