08/23/2026
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that partners will transfer interceptor missiles to Ukraine capable of shooting down ballistic missiles. Germany will provide means of protection against enemy attacks.
However, deliveries will not begin until next year. Zelenskyy said this during a conversation with journalists.
What and when will the Germans give?
According to the head of state, Germany has promised to transfer PAC-2 missiles for Patriot anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine. This involves the supply of 600 interceptors.
However, the missiles should only be counted on in 2027-2028. At the same time, Zelensky added that more missiles are needed, which is why the Ukrainian side is continuing the dialogue with the Americans.
“I agreed with Friedrich Merz on 600 PAC-2 missiles for 2027-2028. PAC-2 also shoots down ballistics, we just need more missiles. We are negotiating separately with the Americans. The Americans are seriously increasing production in the second half of 2027 and beyond. But this is the time, unfortunately. Therefore, we continue to talk with them now about the necessary volumes – in fact, they have the volumes,” Zelensky said.
How many rockets are needed for the winter?
The president also said that he wanted to receive 300 Patriot interceptors for the winter period. According to him, Ukraine continues to work with countries on additional capabilities and is ready to pay for the missiles.
“I wanted to find 300 Patriot missiles for the winter package. The request from our Air Force is 360. But when they produce 600 a year, 360 is not easy. We are working with countries on additional capabilities. And I would really like to believe that we can find the key to some small percentage of the US stockpile – say, 5% or 10%. And we are ready to pay for this supply. That is, America would be able to update its stockpile, we would be able to get through the winter. Such a political decision by America on the supply of missiles could change a lot both in the protection of life and diplomatically as well,” the president said.
As a reminder, on August 22, the Russian terrorist army carried out a massive attack on the Poltava region. The enemy’s target was a railway infrastructure facility.
As OBOZ.UA reported, on August 13, Russian terrorists carried out a targeted attack on a passenger train traveling from Odessa to Dnipro. Two employees of Ukrzaliznytsia were killed as a result of the shelling.
Germany to the rescue again! Thank you so much!
But one day in the near future, Patriot missiles will be as rare as pink diamonds. What must be done is to destroy the enemy’s launchers and especially mafia land’s ability to build more ballistic missiles. I’ve totally abandoned the hope that the West will prevent vital components from reaching the mafia state.
While we are waiting for these missile, send a few hundred Taurus. Even up the playing field a little.
Zelenskyy reveals new air defense solutions: SAMP/T, Freyja and Ukraine’s own ballistic missiles
When will Ukraine receive new air defense missiles and its own ballistic weapons?
Ukraine is negotiating ways to strengthen its air and ballistic missile defenses, from French SAMP/T systems and the FREYJA project to a deal with Germany for PAC-2 missiles, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a meeting with journalists.
SAMP/T, PAC-2 and the FREYJA project
According to Zelenskyy, following an almost two-hour conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, the sides discussed a number of issues, from negotiations to the SAMP/T system.
Ukraine expects new air defense radars from France this fall, as well as one SAMP/T system. Another could be supplied depending on production capacity.
The main problem with SAMP/T is a shortage of Aster 30 missiles, similar to the situation with Patriot systems. Under the existing contract, Ukraine will be able to pay for them using a European loan, while contracts for the production of additional missiles are expected to be signed in September.
In addition, Zelenskyy expects Ukraine to receive licenses by the end of the year to manufacture three types of French weapons domestically. Regarding Patriot systems, the president said he had reached an agreement with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on 600 PAC-2 missiles for 2027–2028, as well as on parallel talks with the US, which is significantly increasing production in the second half of 2027.
As for the European FREYJA project, it has moved from political support by leaders to technical work between companies.
Another area is cooperation with Raytheon on developing a Ukrainian missile for Patriot systems. The company selected Fire Point as its partner, the first technical meeting has already taken place, and a response is expected in the coming weeks.
Zelenskyy also recalled that Russia and China are building their own Starlink alternative and plan to complete the project by December 2026. Ukraine is therefore developing a corresponding project with a European country and has already begun testing it.
Developing Ukraine’s own ballistic weapons
Zelenskyy said two Ukrainian companies are working on domestic ballistic weapons, but mass production has not yet begun.
According to him, the companies are facing certain technical difficulties but are working to resolve them. The president stressed that once mass production is launched, Ukraine will be able to deliver painful strikes in response to Russian terror.
RBC-Ukraine previously reported that Zelenskyy had announced Ukrainian ballistic weapons and a missile defense system for 2026–2027. It was also reported that Patriot missiles are available worldwide, and Zelenskyy called on partners to make the political decision to transfer them to Ukraine.
(From RBC-Ukraine, via MSN)
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/zelenskyy-reveals-new-air-defense-solutions-samp-t-freyja-and-ukraine-s-own-ballistic-missiles/ar-AA2aKWic
Burnham hands Storm Shadow blueprints to Ukraine
Andy Burnham will hand Ukraine secret blueprints for Storm Shadow missiles on his first visit to the country as Prime Minister.
He has agreed to release classified information on British components so that Kyiv can manufacture the long-range weapon for use in its war against Russia.
The latest show of support will be announced on Monday as Mr Burnham and other world leaders travel to the Ukrainian capital to mark the 35th anniversary of its independence from the Soviet Union.
The Prime Minister will meet Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, and chair a meeting of the “coalition of the willing”.
“On Ukraine’s 35th anniversary of independence, the Ukrainian people should be in no doubt – the UK is behind you today and for as long as it takes,” Mr Burnham will say.
“I am proud of the contribution our country has made to Ukraine, and I want the Ukrainian people to hear it directly from me that our support will not waver. After all, Ukraine’s security is our security.
“The friendship between our two countries will long outlast Russia’s illegal war. In both the fight and in the rebuilding to come, we will stand with Ukraine and deliver opportunities for people across both our countries.
“Russia should be in no doubt of our resolve. We will not back down until there is a just and lasting peace.”
However, Ukraine’s ability to manufacture the missile domestically hinged on a British decision to allow the European missile maker MBDA to release sensitive information on UK-made components.
The air-launched weapons have proven vital in Ukrainian strikes on heavily-fortified and hard to reach targets deep behind the frontlines, both on occupied territory and the Russian mainland.
Notably, Storm Shadows were used in separate strikes on Sevastopol, the Crimean port city, targeting the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet and a submarine in September 2023.
They were first used on the Russian mainland a year later after Joe Biden, the former US president, lifted a Western veto on cross-border strikes using powerful missiles. The Trump administration reinstated the block, but lifted it again in October 2025.
The British-French missile relies on classified US targeting data to ensure it can hug terrain en route to the target.
It is not clear whether Washington would sign off and provide data for every strike Ukraine plans with domestically built Scalp-EG/Storm Shadow.
There is also no guarantee Ukraine would be able to begin manufacturing Scalp-EG/Storm Shadow immediately given the difficulties it will face setting up complex production lines
Mr Zelensky has been pushing for the production of Western weapons systems inside Ukraine to boost and accelerate deliveries to Kyiv’s armed forces.
The British and French decisions to trust Ukraine with sensitive blueprints could convince other Western allies to follow suit.
Donald Trump had promised Ukraine a licence to produce Patriot surface-to-air interceptor missiles, which it desperately needs to defend against incoming Russian ballistic missiles.
But the process has been delayed over fears the technology could fall into Russian hands, with the US president appearing to backtrack on the promise in July.
Mr Zelensky said on Saturday that Ukraine had requested 360 Patriot missiles from allies, but hoped to receive 300.
The Ukrainian president said the supply of interceptors and a $27bn (£19.8bn) financial blackhole faced by his ministry of defence were the country’s two “major challenges”.
He added that he was working with France and Germany to release €30bn (£25.7bn) in funding from the European Union, which is being held up by demands for legislative reforms in Kyiv.
The British move to push through Ukrainian production of Scalp-EG is likely to trigger a further deterioration in diplomatic relations with Moscow.
On Sunday, the Kremlin revealed that it had withdrawn Andrei Kelin, its long-serving ambassador to London, after seven years in the UK.
Announcing the move, a spokesman for Russia’s foreign ministry accused Britain of opting for a “path of confrontation” and urged the Government to “reconsider its policies towards our country”.
Western intelligence sources have told The Telegraph that Russia has launched a fresh wave of attacks on European armaments factories under the guise of plausible deniability.
A spate of fires and explosions have been reported at plants in Estonia, Italy and Bulgaria, where drones and ammunition were being manufactured for Ukraine.
The Kremlin is recruiting local gang members to sabotage defence manufacturers to test Nato’s resolve.
The attacks appear carefully calculated to fall just short of triggering Article 5, Nato’s mutual defence clause, intelligence officials believe.
A Nato official told the Telegraph: “In recent years, Russia has accelerated its destabilisation campaigns against Allies through cyber attacks, assassination attempts and acts of sabotage.”
What has become known as the Kremlin’s “hybrid war”, different officials argue, is aimed at escalating tensions among Nato’s allies and deterring support for Ukraine.
The Nato official added: “Nato continues to boost its resilience and is applying and enhancing the tools at our disposal to counter hybrid actions. We continue to monitor malign activities conducted against Allies, including through proxies.
“At every stage, we will ensure that the Alliance is prepared to deter and defend against any threat and to keep our one billion citizens safe.”
(From The Telegraph, via MSN)
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/burnham-hands-storm-shadow-blueprints-to-ukraine/ar-AA2aLuMi