Ukraine has received more U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems to help it counter Russia’s daily barrages, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, as Russian drones killed a man and injured five of his family members, including two children, in the latest nighttime attack.
Russia’s relentless pounding of urban areas behind the front line following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago has killed thousands of civilians. It has also targeted the energy supply to deny civilians heat and running water in winter, as well as disrupt industrial production of Ukraine’s newly developed drones and missiles.
The sophisticated Patriot systems are the most effective weapon against Russian missiles. Zelenskyy has pleaded with Western partners to provide more of them, but production limitations and the need to maintain stockpiles have slowed their delivery.
“More Patriots are now in Ukraine and being put into operation,” Zelenskyy said on social media late Sunday. “Of course, more systems are needed to protect key infrastructure sites and our cities across the entire territory of our state.”
He thanked Germany and its Chancellor Friedrich Merz for the Patriots. Germany said three months ago it would deliver two more U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine. It agreed to the move after securing assurances that the U.S. will prioritize the delivery of new Patriots to Germany to backfill its stocks.
Germany has given to Ukraine more Patriot systems from its own armed forces than any other country, the German Defense Ministry said Monday. Germany has also supplied shorter range air defense systems, such as IRIS-T and Skynex.
NATO is coordinating regular deliveries of large weapons packages to Ukraine. European allies and Canada are buying much of the equipment from the United States. The Trump administration is not giving any arms to Ukraine, unlike the previous Biden administration.
Speaking at a briefing, Zelenskyy said he discussed additional support for Ukraine’s energy sector in Monday's call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “We are working to cover the amount needed for gas imports,” he said, adding that von der Leyen promised additional assistance.
Speaking about the battlefield situation, Zelenskyy said that the Ukrainian military was fighting several hundred Russian troops who entered the eastern stronghold of Pokrovsk and another 60 Russian soldiers who have infiltrated into Kupiansk. Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that Moscow's forces have blockaded both Pokrovsk and Kupiansk — allegations dismissed by Kyiv.
Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine was ramping up production of interceptor drones to counter Russian aerial attacks and voiced hope that the daily output will reach 600-800 of them a day by the end of the month. He added that Ukraine already makes twice as many sea drones as it uses and has the capacity to export some of them.
Russia launched 12 missiles of various types and 138 strike and decoy drones at Ukraine overnight from Sunday to Monday, Ukraine’s air force said. On some nights it has fired many hundreds of drones and missiles at Ukraine.
In Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region, Russian drones hit a house where they killed a man and injured five members of his family, authorities said. Two women were also injured in a separate Sumy attack.
“The Russians cynically targeted people — deliberately, at night, while they were sleeping,” regional head Oleh Hryhorov said in response to the attacks.
Russian missiles started a fire at a business in the central city of Dnipro, injuring one man, and also struck energy infrastructure in the southern Mykolaiv region.
At the same time, Ukraine has been trying to constrain Russia's oil industry, a mainstay of its economy.
Ukrainian forces struck Russia’s Saratov oil refinery overnight and started a fire, according to Ukraine’s general staff. It was Ukraine’s fourth attack on the Saratov installation in almost seven weeks.
The refinery, located some 500 kilometers (300 miles) from the Ukrainian border, can process several million metric tons of oil a year.
Zelenskyy claimed last week that long-range strikes on Russian refineries have reduced Moscow’s oil refining capacity by 20%.
Stefanie Dazio in Berlin contributed to this report.
© Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
76 Comments
Underworld
Ukraine needs these Patriots to defend against Russia's war crimes targeting civilians.
Monty
“More Patriots are now in Ukraine and being put into operation,”
Very good!
bass4funk
Good
Ah_so
Like many despotic regimes, oil keeps the Russian rulers in power. If the oil stops flowing, their flow of money and grip on power will weaken.
proxy
What happened to all the other Patriot air defense systems sent to Ukraine? I would expect that these ones get blown up just as easily.
lincolnman
Good. Now Mr President, give Ukraine Tomahawks and longer-ranged HIMARS so they can pulverize Russia's oil infrastructure and really put a hurt on Putin for his brutal and illegal invasion...
Underworld
proxy
They need to protect more than one site, proxy.
proxy
@Underworld
The other ones have all been destroyed.
JJE
No real bombshells here. What they aren't explaining is the real issue are the costly interceptors, which are in short supply. And Russia one-way drones are becoming more advanced. And new ranges, upgrades and variants of advanced missile systems have sent interception rates tumbling. Not to mention a whole new generation of powered glide bombs, further decreasing the engagement envelope.
His take on the Pokrovsk and Kupiansk zones is not in touch with reality.
garymalmgren
RE: Good. Now Mr President, give Ukraine Tomahawks and longer-ranged HIMARS so they can pulverize Russia's oil infrastructure and really put a hurt on Putin for his brutal and illegal invasion...
If by, "Mr President" you are referring to President Trump giving something away, you are off course.
The US has approved the transfer of certain military from those who have paid for it to the Ukrainians. They have given nothing! It is the Europeans who have stumped up the weapons and money!
From the above article: Germany said three months ago it would deliver two more U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine. It agreed to the move after securing assurances that the U.S. will prioritize the delivery of new Patriots to Germany to backfill its stocks.
Germany has given to Ukraine more Patriot systems from its own armed forces than any other country, the German Defense Ministry said Monday. Germany has also supplied shorter range air defense systems, such as IRIS-T and Skynex.
Underworld
proxy
Really?
Underworld
JJE
They are aiming to get to building 600-800 of them a day. And they are way cheaper than Shaheds to make.
Ukraine is still shooting down 80% of them.
And it's such a shame that Putin is committing war crimes by using them on civilians.
Really?
lincolnman
I WAS referring to the current US President and I WASN"T inferring they should be provided gratis...you are the one in need of a "course correction"...
Authorize the transfer of whatever weapons Zelensky wants so he can defend his nation and people from Putin's barbaric and illegal invasion...
JJE
No, they can't and no they aren't.
The US builds well under 1000 every year.
A single interceptor costs several million dollars.
A single one-way drone is in the thousands, depending on the variant.
Underworld
JJE
They are aiming to get to building 600-800 of them a day. And they are way cheaper than Shaheds to make.
I was talking about interceptor drones from the article, which are used against Shaheds. These are cheap to make.
They don't use Patriot missiles against drones. Patriot missiles are used against Russian missiles.
JJE
Safe bet that figure is inflated and/or exaggerated. Regardless, Moscow will hammer any facility with an output of any significance. Probably already has.
Underworld
JJE
Obviously not or Russias refineries and oil facilities would be getting hammered by Ukrainian drones.
Fos
Same drills once again: majority of Ukrainians want peace negotiations to start, but the White House - who is responsible for this massacre - is not done yet and pressures the Kyiv regime to send its 18 year old kids to the frontlines.
And the US financial markets on all time high are evidence of what we have been saying so far. Check the stock of the maker of Tomahawk missiles, Raytheon Technologies, over 50% up since the start of the year!
Mr Kipling
The "good news" positive propaganda story.... anything but report about the collapse on several fronts in the Dombas or the nearly 100,000 18-23 year old that have left Ukraine since August when Zelenskyy relaxed travel rules for this age group.
Underworld
Fos
Surely it is Russia. I don't think the White House has any troops in Ukraine.
Actually, it is Russia who are looking at pressuring 18 year old Ukrainians in the Donbas to fight for Russia. This is a war crime.
Fountain
Fos, I’d blame Russia solely for all this, not The United States.
HopeSpringsEternal
Great deal of reporting on new advanced Russian cruise missiles, not even hypersonic, easily evading Patriots, their intercept rate down to a lousy 6%.
Ukraine's problem besides air defenses turning into Swiss Cheese, they have no military objectives, losing territory, strong hold cities in east being encircled and invaded, as Ukraine has dire manpower shortages
Conflict to end soon as Trump will not agree to escalate with Tomahawks, Ukraine's losing daily, end game here, longer Kiev waits worse their negotiating position becomes
TaiwanIsNotChina
The majority of Ukrainians want no territorial concessions to the invader, let alone to surrender their sovereignty.
Blacklabel
good!
Buy all you want.
HopeSpringsEternal
Trump trying to buy Ukraine time with Patriots as Ukraine remains has no capacity to retake territory, economy has collapsed, country being destroyed and hollowed out, territory being lost, as Kiev twiddles their thumbs
TaiwanIsNotChina
Putting russians in the ground is hardly twiddling thumbs.
stormcrow
Better late than never.
HopeSpringsEternal
Ukrainians should understand the folly by now of becoming a NATO proxy force, utter destruction of the country, as MANY millions have become either legal Russian citizens or fled abroad for safety and for what?
To become indebted to proxy war creditors? Patriots are not cheap = debt being built up by Ukraine is no joke, nor is the insanely unnecessary destruction of Ukraine
JJE
Interesting Pokrovsk gets a belated mention in the article, and the "several hundred" Russians there who 'entered it'.
Reports are coming over the wire just now Russian forces have captured Rivne - an eastern district of that place - at the mouth of the Myrnohrad salient. This means they have fully closed the entire agglomeration, with all of the former in the red zone, enclosing a big blue rectangular-like shape on the latter.
Time will tell and will be intriguing to see how this pans out and which version of events is accurate - as the article specifically mentions Kyiv denies there is even an encirclement operation going on at all, while Moscow asserts there is. Amazing stuff.
okinawarides
Really?
It appears so. There is a video of one Patriot system being hit just last week.
Fos
How many more Ukrainians lives need to be lost to please the American investors?
This is the real questions. The US lobbies are pushing new boundaries through the constant manipulation of narrative. See the unrest in Eastern Europe, Middle East, Taiwan Strait, and now Carribean.
Let’s not forget that the US government is the biggest arms dealer on Earth, and the top 5 arms-producing and military services companies in the world are in order: Lockheed Martin (USA), Raytheon Technologies (USA) Northrop Grumman (USA), Boeing (USA), General Dynamics (USA).
According to the most recently available data from SIPRI the US military expenditure was over three times more than China, and eight times more than Russia.
okinawarides
They are aiming to get to building 600-800 of them a day.
OK but what is happening with the UA Flamingo missiles that were being spruiked as the latest gamechangers here a few weeks ago?
Used to be 120%.
The civilian building hits are most likely caused by drones that were disabled by electronic defenses or debris from ones that were hit.
Good. Now Mr President, give Ukraine Tomahawks and longer-ranged HIMARS so they can pulverize Russia's oil infrastructure and really put a hurt on Putin for his brutal and illegal invasion...
More escalation and prolonging this war is not what is needed, realistic peace talks are on the other hand. Anyone who wants to see more escalation and prolonging the war is free to volunteer for the frontlines.
HopeSpringsEternal
Ukraine can't win an air war, and it can't win a ground war and therefore only losing daily, as it has been for the past 3 years, as Ukraine is hollowed out and destroyed
Patriots just buying Ukraine time to negotiate settlement, entails defining security guarantees for Ukraine, needed given tragic state of UA, neutrality/no NATO, and land swaps, what Ukraine can reclaim from Russia by giving up approx. 10% of Donbas they still somewhat control
okinawarides
TaiwanIsNotChinaToday 09:47 am JST The majority of Ukrainians want no territorial concessions to the invader, let alone to surrender their sovereignty
Vast majority of Ukrainians want for the conflict to end via peace talks asap, not prolonging the war which is what only NATO / MIC propaganda wants. Both sides need to sit down at peace talks table, drop unrealistic demands such as reclaiming all the territory lost and negotiate a settlement. Enough casualties and damage already.
Underworld
okinawarides
The other ones have all been destroyed.
Really?
I think they had more than one.
Underworld
okinawarides
The majority of Ukrainians want no territorial concessions to the invader, let alone to surrender their sovereignty
How many times do I need to tell you that Putin doesn't want peace.
lincolnman
Once again, an interesting view on appeasing an invader...
When the home invader illegally invades and occupies one-fourth of your property, you shouldn't fight back and kick him out - you should "negotiate" with him and not make "unreasonable demands" like returning your property or family members he kidnapped...
Thank goodness Ukrainians aren't into cowardly appeasement and surrender...
Underworld
okinawarides
And it's such a shame that Putin is committing war crimes by using them on civilians.
No, they aren't. Civilians are deliberately targeted by Russia.
Good. Now Mr President, give Ukraine Tomahawks and longer-ranged HIMARS so they can pulverize Russia's oil infrastructure and really put a hurt on Putin for his brutal and illegal invasion...
Escalation is indeed needed to bring Putin to the negotiating table - so it isn't prolonging the war but quite the opposite.
As I said, escalation isn't prolonging this war - it will shorted the war.
JJE
Remember how they would frequently reference ISW in these articles. Now that barely - if at all - happens, because even their mapping shows a clear encirclement operation at Pokrovsk (last updated Nov.2).
HopeSpringsEternal
All of Trump's actions since taking office Jan 20th have made it clear he's NOT escalating matters in Ukraine. He's stated many times, US Govt. Ukraine policy under Biden Admin was a clear path towards WWIII.
Patriots are humanitarian in nature, helping Ukraine defend itself from a conflict that never should have begun, but unfortunately, the Patriots are rapidly losing their ability to intercept Russia's latest missile upgrades
Trump cut all US Govt. funding to Ukraine, forcing other NATO Members to fully fund and because battlefield situation worsening daily as Ukraine lacks sufficient ground troops, NATO funding also dropping rapidly.
There will be no Tomahawks, Kiev will soon be forced to call it quits, as it's illogical to continue funding a losing campaign that only further indebts and destroys Ukraine
HopeSpringsEternal
When ISW goes 'dark', you know it's bad, they don't even want to report on the daily Russian Ukraine airstrikes anymore and keep in mind their maps a clear "pro" Ukrainian bias, so it's actually far worse.
Patriots cannot solve core battlefield problems, just another Band-Aid, while damaging US strategic military readiness and indebting Ukraine
The question is how soon Zelenskyy capitulates, the over under seems about XMAS time...
Cephus
And what is the end game with these patriots? Because for sure they won't bring back peace.
Underworld
HopeSpringsEternal
Ukraine aren't losing. It is Putin who may be forced to call it quits.
Underworld
Cephus
They will protect civilians from Russian missiles.
Underworld
HopeSpringsEternal
2026? It certainly won't be 2025.
Cephus
"They will protect civilians from Russian missiles."
Point noted, but for how long will the Ukrainian public depend on these patriots for protection?
HopeSpringsEternal
Things happen quickly in war, it's not linear, Zelenskyy and Ukraine now in a doom loop of lack of troops, funding and support both at home and abroad.
Nobody knows exactly when it'll finally be settled but it could easily be this year. US Govt. deciding to no longer fund this proxy war was really the beginning of the end, now it's just details, Patriots simply humanitarian
Zelenskyy has run out of options, troops and funding
Peter14
The lack of ability for Russia to find military targets inside Ukraine forces them to target at random. The deliberate targeting of energy infrastructure shows they have the ability to hit what they aim for. The fact they dont shows they dont have much support inside Ukraine and their operatives, if any, are being weeded out before finding military targets, factories, munitions warehouses etc.
Situation reversed inside Russia, the intel Ukraine gets from people on the ground allow it to target important military targets and continue to degrade Russia's ability to fuel its invasion forces.
okinawarides
No, they aren't. Civilians are deliberately targeted by Russia.
Highly unlikely as there is no upside to hitting civilian targets as opposed to military. Sounds like propaganda.
Escalation is indeed needed to bring Putin to the negotiating table - so it isn't prolonging the war but quite the opposite.
Nope.
Peter14
Yes, most Ukrainians want the war ended asap, but not through surrender to Russia.
No, everyone wants it but Putin who wants more of Ukraine.
No. The invader cant be rewarded for invading. All territory MUST be returned in full.
This is all on Putin and Russia. Casualties on both sides and damage on both sides. This is Putin's invasion.
HopeSpringsEternal
Trump decides on any Ukraine escalation, and he's clearly ruled it out. Zelenskyy needs to accept reality for good of Ukraine, as Patriots are not in endless supply, and clearly Trump Admin patience is wearing thin fast
Zelenskyy will do the right thing, as seeing his UA and country destroyed, as the Russian military machine rolls forward is hardly logical, he has no more cards to play
TaiwanIsNotChina
There is no peace agreement to be had as long as Putin refuses to acknowledge Ukraine's sovereignty.
ian
Business booming.
As long as Europian allies and Canada are willing to buy US will gladly sell.
But it's good the US is pushing for peace at the same time.
HopeSpringsEternal
Putin will recognize a neutral Ukraine, not one that's part of NATO. Zelenskyy will recognize that the many millions of his former citizens, that are now legally Russian, will be living in their homeland of the Donbas etc.
It's really not that complicated, a few land swaps and appropriate security guarantees for neutral Ukraine
Fos
Let’s not forget that the US industrial military complex is the main responsible for this terrible conflict, for the huge loss of lives on the battlefield and the destruction of the country, while the warlords of Wall Street keep profiting through the sales of lethal weapons, and the likes of Goldman Sachs and Halliburton are about to seize what is left of value in the country through the deal with minerals and rare earth.
What is clear from the beginning is that Russia could not have the US nuclear missiles bases in Ukraine, same as Washington would not allow Moscow to hold military equipment in Canada. It is a very elementary principle of satellite countries and big empires.
Cephus
"Zelenskyy will do the right thing, as seeing his UA and country destroyed, as the Russian military machine rolls forward is hardly logical, he has no more cards to play."
These conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, reminds me of those frequent horrible road accidents in Africa. When one driver overtakes a slower moving vehicle with on coming vehicle on the other lane resulting in head on collision because both claim their manhood is more important than multiple deaths. That's the same scenario between President Putin and Zellensky in a global level.
JJE
The larger questions regarding these alleged/denied massive encirclement operations: whether someone is being misled or being misleading.
If it is the former, it means the chains of command are misinforming the leadership for whatever reason. The latter means just outright deception.
HopeSpringsEternal
Pretty accurate Fos, though clearly under Trump Admin, he's pivoting US military industrial complex to far bigger fish than territorial matters in Eastern Europe, so it was Biden Admin that caused this madness, destabilizing entire world, fueling inflation via currency real asset purchasing power destruction etc.
Trump's simply trying to end Ukraine madness and stabilize the world, as global proxy wars are a cancer, that greatly increase the risk WWIII escalation
Underworld
okinawarides
No, they aren't. Civilians are deliberately targeted by Russia.
Highly unlikely as there is no upside to hitting civilian targets as opposed to military. Sounds like propaganda.
No, it isn’t propaganda, it is true. Putin sees it as a way of breaking Ukrainian spirit.
Escalation is indeed needed to bring Putin to the negotiating table - so it isn't prolonging the war but quite the opposite.
Indeed, if Putin isn’t brought to the negotiating table, he will keep waging this war.
Underworld
Fos
This is nonsense. There was no talk of US nuclear missiles in Ukraine. That’s a complete fabrication.
Peter14
The US has nothing to do with Putin's invasion into Ukraine!
Is the fault and responsibility of Putin alone.
Lets not forget the massive profits being made by those making arms for the invader. Russia uses much more than Ukraine and somebody makes those weapons. Profits are good in the weapons industries of Russia and Putin no doubt getting his cut of the profit.
None were ever planned on being put there. Russian delusions to allow Putin to invade.
Canada is an enemy of Russia, so that would be like US putting nuclear weapons in China and North Korea and aimed at Russia. Just an absurd notion.
orange genius
no gamechangers.no peace either.
Underworld
Cephus
Well no. Zelenskyy is fighting to save Ukraine. It's an existential fight for the Ukrainians. If they don't they lose sovereignty, their language, their culture, and become part of Russia.
Underworld
HopeSpringsEternal
Ukraine will never be neutral. And one day they will be part of NATO.
Nobody has legally joined Russia. The declaration by Putin hasn't been recognized by the U.N.
Zelenskyy won't give land to Putin, just like Putin won't give land to Zelenskyy.
Fos
Just as reminder U.S. tactical nuclear weapons remain at six bases in five NATO member countries in Europe, Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey. In some of these countries their national law bans the use of nuclear energy but clearly US economic interests don't.
The truth is for the US administration and the big industrial military complex, it was just a golden opportunity to wear down Putin, put a leash on the Europeans and make good deals on arms and energy.
And the Wall Street financial markets on historical highs are evidence of that.
Peter14
Yes, Putin's unjustified invasion of Ukraine did present an opportunity for a handful of US companies to increase profits short term. Just as some Russian companies noticed the same thing and have also driven up their own profits. War drives up profits for companies that make the weapons used, no matter which side they are on, or even if they sell to both sides because they are neutral.
okinawarides
All territory MUST be returned in full.
How do you realistically propose Ukraine to get back all the territory it lost? Even NATO ministers are now openly saying it is impossible.
Italian Defense Minister says: “Ukraine’s recovery of lost territories is impossible”
Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said during an interview with journalist Bruno Vespa that the prospect of Ukraine reclaiming its occupied lands has effectively vanished. “Regaining the territories lost in 2014 and after February 2022 is now considered impossible by everyone,” Crosetto said https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/italian-minister-says-ukraine-s-recovery-of-lost-territories-is-impossible/ar-AA1Pqyju
Underworld
Fos
Just as a reminder, the US has not installed nuclear missiles to new NATO members since the Cuban missile crisis.
Underworld
okinawarides
All territory MUST be returned in full.
I would say that the Italian Defense Minister lacks imagination and is only considering a military victory.
Peter14
All territory MUST be returned in full.
Italian Defense Minister says: “Ukraine’s recovery of lost territories is impossible”
The last war Italy fought was WWII which it lost badly and then swapped sides.
France surrendered in WWII but still ended up with all its territory back by the end. While this war continues, all things remain possible. Ukraine can win if the shackles are thrown off and they get what they need when they need it rather than on drip to simply survive.
Fos
United Stated of America deployed nuclear missiles in Europe during Cold War and after the Cuba crisis, in West Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
Now the US Department of War (Pentagon) maintains a stockpile of B61 nuclear gravity bombs in Europe under the NATO nuclear sharing arrangement in the countries mentioned. This is nothing new
Underworld
Fos
Nope. West Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands all joined NATO before the Cuban missile crisis, and had already had nuclear missile before the before Cuban missile crisis.
No nation that joined NATO after the Cuban missile crisis has had nuclear missile deployed.
Underworld
okinawarides
I would say that the Italian Defense Minister lacks imagination and is only considering a military victory.
Sure. But he is clearly only looking at a military option.
A clear lack of imagination.
lincolnman
I would say the Italian Defense Minister lacks courage and is for appeasing an invader...just like all the others saying Ukraine should cede sovereign territory...
Weaklings, wimps, and wussies...grow a spine and stand up to criminal invaders...
Peter14
The use of subterfuge and deception are well know ploys during times like these and that "information" or more like personal opinion, could well be for the purpose of calming Putin rather than stating any actual position held by NATO.
Nobody here on JT can "know" anything for sure regarding the war, the positions held by those outside the war like NATO alliance or if a statement is true or faked, and for what purpose a "statement" is given.
okinawarides
The use of subterfuge and deception are well know ploys during times like these and that "information" or more like personal opinion, could well be for the purpose of calming Putin rather than stating any actual position held by NATO.
Perhaps but that is just pure speculation tangent with no realistic basis. Will take the words of NATO defense minister on this one.