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Ukraine Receives Patriot Air-Defense Systems As Pentagon Announces More Military Aid

Updated
The mobile surface-to-air Patriot system is one of the most advanced in the world and can be used against aircraft, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles. (file photo)
The mobile surface-to-air Patriot system is one of the most advanced in the world and can be used against aircraft, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles. (file photo)

Ukraine said on April 19 that it has received its first Patriot air-defense systems, and the United States announced a package of military aid worth $325 million as Russia launched a fresh wave of drone attacks on the southern port city of Odesa.

"Today, our beautiful Ukrainian skies have become more secure because Patriot air-defense systems have arrived in Ukraine," Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov wrote on Twitter.

Reznikov wrote that the Ukrainian air-defense forces have trained to master the complexities of the Patriot systems "as quickly as they could" and thanked the United States, Germany, and the Netherlands for having "kept their word" on delivering the system.

The mobile surface-to-air Patriot system is one of the most advanced in the world and can be used against aircraft, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles.

The United States and Germany pledged Patriot systems to Ukraine following waves of Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure that began in October.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said Patriot will "significantly" beef up Ukraine's air defense.

An additional $325 million in U.S. military aid announced on April 19 also will help.

The package will send rockets for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) that the Pentagon says Ukraine has used effectively on the battlefield, as well as an array of other missiles, small-arms ammunition, and anti-tank ammunition.

The supplies will be pulled from Pentagon inventories, meaning they can go quickly to the front line as Ukraine prepares to launch a counteroffensive against Russian forces.

Counteroffensive actions by Ukrainian troops are already taking place in eastern Ukraine, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said. The dates of counteroffensive actions will not be announced, Malyar added, but certain actions already are under way in areas around Lyman, Avdiyivka, and Maryinka.

The announcement of the arrival of Patriot systems and the U.S. weapons package came after Russia attacked the southern port city of Odesa with Iranian-made drones overnight.

"This time, 10 out of 12 Shahed kamikaze drones were destroyed by the members of the Odesa antiaircraft missile brigade of the Southern Air Command," the military said in a statement.

Yuriy Kruk, the head of the military administration in the Odesa region, said a public infrastructure target was hit during the drone attack, but there were no immediate reports of casualties.

As Russia Increases Shelling and Air Strikes On Bakhmut, Ukraine Retaliates With Its Own

Ukrainian troops fire a BM-21 Grad multiple-rocket launcher toward Russian positions on the front line near Bakhmut in the Donetsk region on April 18.<br /> <br /> Moscow&#39;s forces are stepping up their use of heavy artillery and air strikes in the devastated eastern city of Bakhmut, the commander of Ukraine&#39;s ground forces said on April 18.
1/12 Ukrainian troops fire a BM-21 Grad multiple-rocket launcher toward Russian positions on the front line near Bakhmut in the Donetsk region on April 18.

Moscow's forces are stepping up their use of heavy artillery and air strikes in the devastated eastern city of Bakhmut, the commander of Ukraine's ground forces said on April 18.
As Moscow's forces increase their use of heavy artillery and air strikes in the devastated eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, Kyiv's outnumbered and outgunned soldiers are countering with their own big guns.
&quot;Currently, the enemy is increasing the activity of heavy artillery and the number of air strikes, turning the city into ruins,&quot; General Oleksandr Syrskiy said in a statement.
2/12 "Currently, the enemy is increasing the activity of heavy artillery and the number of air strikes, turning the city into ruins," General Oleksandr Syrskiy said in a statement.
As Moscow's forces increase their use of heavy artillery and air strikes in the devastated eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, Kyiv's outnumbered and outgunned soldiers are countering with their own big guns.
Syrskiy added that the Kremlin&#39;s forces remain committed to taking Bakhmut &quot;at any cost&quot; but were suffering significant losses in the battle.
3/12 Syrskiy added that the Kremlin's forces remain committed to taking Bakhmut "at any cost" but were suffering significant losses in the battle.
As Moscow's forces increase their use of heavy artillery and air strikes in the devastated eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, Kyiv's outnumbered and outgunned soldiers are countering with their own big guns.
An artilleryman waits in his vehicle as his unit fires a BM-21 Grad multiple-rocket launcher toward Russian positions.<br /> <br /> Despite the brutal combat between Ukrainian and Russian forces, Kyiv&#39;s outnumbered and outgunned fighters are still holding onto the western part of Bakhmut.
4/12 An artilleryman waits in his vehicle as his unit fires a BM-21 Grad multiple-rocket launcher toward Russian positions.

Despite the brutal combat between Ukrainian and Russian forces, Kyiv's outnumbered and outgunned fighters are still holding onto the western part of Bakhmut.
As Moscow's forces increase their use of heavy artillery and air strikes in the devastated eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, Kyiv's outnumbered and outgunned soldiers are countering with their own big guns.
Ukrainian artillerymen rest near their vehicles.
5/12 Ukrainian artillerymen rest near their vehicles.
As Moscow's forces increase their use of heavy artillery and air strikes in the devastated eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, Kyiv's outnumbered and outgunned soldiers are countering with their own big guns.
The capture of Bakhmut would allow Russian forces to advance deeper into the Donetsk region where the industrial cities of Kramatorsk and Slovyansk await.
6/12 The capture of Bakhmut would allow Russian forces to advance deeper into the Donetsk region where the industrial cities of Kramatorsk and Slovyansk await.
As Moscow's forces increase their use of heavy artillery and air strikes in the devastated eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, Kyiv's outnumbered and outgunned soldiers are countering with their own big guns.
A Ukrainian soldier scans the sky with binoculars...
7/12 A Ukrainian soldier scans the sky with binoculars...
As Moscow's forces increase their use of heavy artillery and air strikes in the devastated eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, Kyiv's outnumbered and outgunned soldiers are countering with their own big guns.
...while another relaxes by playing an accordion.
8/12 ...while another relaxes by playing an accordion.
As Moscow's forces increase their use of heavy artillery and air strikes in the devastated eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, Kyiv's outnumbered and outgunned soldiers are countering with their own big guns.
Kyiv admits that its forces have paid a heavy price defending &quot;Fortress Bakhmut,&quot; a city that held around 70,000 people before the Russian invasion.&nbsp;The brutal fighting is being called the bloodiest infantry battle since World War II.
9/12 Kyiv admits that its forces have paid a heavy price defending "Fortress Bakhmut," a city that held around 70,000 people before the Russian invasion. The brutal fighting is being called the bloodiest infantry battle since World War II.
As Moscow's forces increase their use of heavy artillery and air strikes in the devastated eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, Kyiv's outnumbered and outgunned soldiers are countering with their own big guns.
A Ukrainian soldier uses a drone to locate Russian positions near Bakhmut on April 16.
10/12 A Ukrainian soldier uses a drone to locate Russian positions near Bakhmut on April 16.
As Moscow's forces increase their use of heavy artillery and air strikes in the devastated eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, Kyiv's outnumbered and outgunned soldiers are countering with their own big guns.
The drone operator views his screen in search of targets to fire on.<br /> <br /> The head of the Wagner mercenary group, which has led Moscow&#39;s attempt to seize Bakhmut, said this month that its fighters controlled more than 80 percent of the city, a claim denied by Kyiv.
11/12 The drone operator views his screen in search of targets to fire on.

The head of the Wagner mercenary group, which has led Moscow's attempt to seize Bakhmut, said this month that its fighters controlled more than 80 percent of the city, a claim denied by Kyiv.
As Moscow's forces increase their use of heavy artillery and air strikes in the devastated eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, Kyiv's outnumbered and outgunned soldiers are countering with their own big guns.
Smoke rises above a Russian position after it was targeted.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> Kyiv&#39;s military is widely expected to mount a counteroffensive in the coming weeks or months aimed at recapturing Russian-held territory.
12/12 Smoke rises above a Russian position after it was targeted. 

Kyiv's military is widely expected to mount a counteroffensive in the coming weeks or months aimed at recapturing Russian-held territory.
As Moscow's forces increase their use of heavy artillery and air strikes in the devastated eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, Kyiv's outnumbered and outgunned soldiers are countering with their own big guns.
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In the east, Ukrainian defenders repelled more than 60 attacks as Russian troops continue their assault on Bakhmut, Avdiyivka, and Maryinka, Ukraine's General Staff said in its daily report on April 19.

The fiercest battles are fought for Bakhmut and Maryinka, which remain the epicenter of hostilities, the military said.

The months of fighting for Bakhmut in particular has turned into one of the bloodiest battles of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with both sides reportedly suffering heavy casualties.

The Ukrainian military said April 19 that it had taken delivery of France's light AMX-10 RC armored fighting vehicles, which were "already in service."

With reporting by Reuters, AP, and CNN
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