USA contemplates how to help Ukraine counteract ballistic missiles after attack on Dnipro
The USA considered strengthening the air defence of Ukraine with equipment designed to counteract ballistic missiles, such as the one used in the attack on an apartment block in the city of Dnipro on 14 January.
Source: Colin Kahl, the undersecretary of defence for policy in the Biden administration, during a press conference with Ukrainian journalists in Kyiv on 16 January, as reported by European Pravda
Quote: "From the very beginning, our military aid to Ukraine in the context of air defence was based on Ukraine’s needs at the moment."
Kahl remarked that, currently, the American side is focused on equipping the Ukrainian Air Defence Forces with shells for the Hawk and Buk systems, and added that the USA and Germany will supply Ukraine with the Patriot air defence systems that "will serve as a decent protection against ballistic missiles."
"[We are also discussing – ed.] The way Russians turn air defence missiles into ballistic missiles. We continue to monitor this," Kahl added.
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Kahl reminded the public that as soon as 20 January, another meeting of the Contact group for Ukrainian Defence will be held at the Ramstein air base in Germany.
"Air defence remains priority number one. The second most important issue is the guarantee that Ukraine has enough armoured vehicles to continue holding the initiative on the front. But air defence is still number one," Kahl emphasised.
Background:
In the Russian large-scale attack, a missile hit an apartment block in the city of Dnipro in Ukraine. According to the latest official reports, at least 40 people died. The search and rescue operation is ongoing.
Yurii Ihnat, spokesperson of the Air Forces of Ukraine, reported that the apartment building in Dnipro was hit with a Kh-22 ballistic missile. Such a missile can be destroyed with modern western air defence systems such as Patriot or SAMP-T, but it cannot be done using the systems Ukraine has at the moment.
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