Romania delivers Patriot air defence system to Ukraine

Romania has successfully delivered the promised Patriot air defence system to Ukraine as part of its military assistance, Constantin Spînu, spokesperson for the Romanian Ministry of Defence,said.

"We confirm that the Patriot system has arrived in Ukraine," Spînu stated, Caliber.Az reports per Ukrainian media.

On October 2, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude to all nations supporting Ukraine's air defence efforts on his X account. 

He specifically thanked Romania for the Patriot systems, emphasizing, "Together, we can achieve even greater efficiency — we can put an end to Russian terror by jointly taking down Shaheds and missiles."

Romania announced its intention to transfer the Patriot system to Ukraine on June 20. The delivery faced delays as it required approval from both chambers of Romania’s Parliament and the government, which was finalized on September 3. Following this, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis officially approved the transfer on September 5.

The Patriot systems are critical for Ukraine, which continues to face shortages in air defence capabilities necessary to intercept ballistic missiles throughout the country. Recently, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken revealed that Iran has provided Russia with short-range ballistic missiles, which could be used for strikes near the frontline, highlighting the urgency of bolstering Ukraine's defences.

By Vafa Guliyeva