Reznikov: A new era of Ukrainian air defense

Germany has already supplied the first IRIS-T air defense system to Ukraine, while the NASAMS systems from the United States are on their way, Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov reported on Twitter today.

“A new era of air defense has begun in Ukraine. IRIS-Ts from Germany are already here. U.S. NASAMS are coming. This is only the beginning. And we need more. No doubt that russia is a terrorist state. There is a moral imperative to protect the sky over Ukraine in order to save our people,” he twitted.

A new era of air defence has begun in 🇺🇦. IRIS-Ts from 🇩🇪 are already here. 🇺🇸 NASAMS are coming. This is only the beginning. And we need more. No doubt that russia is a terrorist state.
There is a moral imperative to protect the sky over 🇺🇦 in order to save our people. pic.twitter.com/jvbXUwDjc8

— Oleksii Reznikov (@oleksiireznikov) October 11, 2022

Yesterday, the Minister announced the arrival of four additional HIMARS to Ukraine, for which he thanked U.S. President Joe Biden, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III, and the American people. “Great news on the eve of Ramstein 6, where I’m going tomorrow. There will be more,” he commented.

4 additional HIMARS from our 🇺🇲 partners have arrived!
I thank @POTUS Joe Biden @SecDef Lloyd Austin III & the American people.
HIMARS time:good time for Ukrainians and bad time for the occupiers.
Great news on the eve of #Ramstein 6, where I’m going tomorrow. There will be more.

— Oleksii Reznikov (@oleksiireznikov) October 11, 2022

In wake of the recent barbaric aerial assault on Ukrainian cities by Russia, “Ramstein 6,” or the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting today in Brussels, is expected to also focus on air defense for Ukraine among other things, according to U.S. Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith. “I suspect the emphasis tomorrow will be on air defense more specifically,” she said yesterday in an online press briefing.

Ukraine also expects the supply of SAMP-T anti-air missile systems from France and Italy. Yesterday, addressing the leaders of the two countries during the extraordinary G7 summit, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said, “We are very much looking forward to the delivery of the SAMP-T systems. And if possible, they are needed in the coming months.”