Ukraine shot down 21 out of 22 Shahed drones used in a Russian attack overnight, its air force reported earlier today. The drones were shot down over six regions. One of the drones hit a power facility in the northern city of Chernihiv, close to the border with Russia. The strike has caused over 5,000 people to live without electricity. The Ukrainian military is struggling with a shortage of Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs) for its air defence systems as Russia’s aerial onslaught on Ukrainian energy infrastructure continues unabated. Ukraine is seeking Patriot missile systems that have helped Ukraine defend itself from Russia’s assaults.
The U.S. Congress passed USD 60 billion supplemental funding for Ukraine earlier this year. Ukraine is in urgent need as its ammunition reserves, especially those of artillery and air-defence, have been dwindling. Ukraine would receive ammunition for Patriot air defence system, National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), Stinger anti-aircraft missiles from the United States. he U.S. will reprioritize planned deliveries of foreign military sales of Patriot and other missiles to go to Ukraine, which is in “desperate need” of more air defense capabilities amid its ongoing war with Russia. The Ukrainian forces will also get Additional High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems(HIMARS) and ammunition, 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition, Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) and Javelin ATGMs besides AT-4 anti-armour rockets.
Russian air defences also shot down 36 drones in three regions bordered by Ukraine on Monday. The claim was made by the Russian Ministry of Defence. Eighteen Ukrainian drones were destroyed over the Bryansk region while nine drones each were destroyed over Kursk and Belgorod. The local governments have stated that there were no casualties due to the drone strikes. Kyiv has said attacks on Russia’s military, transport and energy infrastructure are in response to Moscow’s continuous attacks on Ukraine’s territory since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
(With inputs from Reuters)
