President Volodymyr Zelenskyy requests more Patriot missile systems from the United States to counter intense Russian strikes on Kyiv.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged the United States and Western partners to provide more Patriot anti-ballistic missile defense systems to protect Ukraine from frequent Russian strikes. These systems are essential to counter the relentless barrage of ballistic missiles and drones that recently struck the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, killing at least nine people and wounding 30 civilians. Russia’s defense ministry reported a massive strike against military-industrial complex facilities and logistics centers. While the Ukrainian leader spoke with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and discussed a meeting with President Trump, the administration announced that a final decision on whether to license Ukraine to manufacture Patriot systems has not yet been made. The strikes caused significant damage to residential and commercial buildings in several districts of and were described by residents like Liudmyla Nakonechna as psychologically taxing due to their daily frequency. Zelenskyy emphasized that interceptors for Patriot systems remain a top priority for Ukraine's defense.