Ukrainian Air Force explains how Patriot systems will help in war

Yuriy Ihnat, the spokesman for Ukrainian Air Force Command, said this in the interview with Radio Svoboda.

"This is a very necessary thing for Ukraine. Because Patriot has long been dreamed of in our strategy for further development of the Air Force. Patriot is a long-range weapon that can hit its aeroballistic targets at a distance of up to 150 kilometers. These complexes in certain directions could help repel Russian aviation away from our borders, namely bombers such as TU-22M3 or Russian tactical aviation crews," he explained.

Ihnat is convinced that the Ukrainian military can master new Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems easily, although it will take some time.

"Western-style complexes are quite modern, a lot of things are automated in them, a lot of human factors have been rejected. Therefore, retraining for these complexes is not a big problem. Although it takes some time," he said.

Spokesman of Air Force Command added that, in general, Ukraine has great needs for a wide variety of air defense equipment and is, therefore, ready to take "a lot of what they can offer us" from Western partners. After all, the Air Force, thanks to means of air defense, aviation, as well as mobile groups, covers the most threatening directions and individual strategic objects of critical infrastructure.

"However, this is not enough to cover all needs," Ignat said.

• On the evening of December 21, the United States announced a new $1 billion military aid package to Ukraine, as well as an additional $850 million aid package. Patriot air defense system is included in the aid package.