Germany to start deliveries of two Patriot systems to Ukraine

Germany said on Friday it will soon start delivering two more US-made Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine, as Kyiv faces a growing number of Russian drone and missile attacks.

After reaching an agreement with the United States, the German military will deliver additional Patriot launchers in the coming days, and will supply further components in the next two to three months, the defence ministry said in a statement.

In return, Germany has agreed with the US Defense Department that it will be the "first country" to receive expedited delivery of new-generation Patriot systems.

Germany has already delivered three Patriot systems to Ukraine since 2022.

Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said Friday's announcement "shows once again that Germany is by far Ukraine's strongest supporter when it comes to air defence".

On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said 31 people had been killed and 159 had been wounded in a Russian air strike in Kyiv the previous day.

Five children were among the dead, the youngest two years old.