Russian forces destroyed two Patriot SAM installations near the front line

Replacing modern air defense systems will not be easy. Ukraine may queue up to purchase them, but it will take a lot of time and Kiev does not have the money for it, Forbes writes.

Persistence and luck of the Russian drone operator bore fruit on Saturday or a few days earlier when Russians detected a convoy of Ukrainian Armed Forces near Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine, which included at least two launchers for the Patriot SAM system based on a mobile chassis. After the destruction of two Patriot SAM installations (presumably with experienced crews), the burden on Ukraine’s air defense increased.

Moreover, replacing the lost launchers will not be easy. Kiev sent some of its air defense systems to stop Russia’s widespread use of frontline aviation. However, this decision by the Kiev command turned out to be fatal. Most likely, Ukraine will now withdraw its air defense systems to the rear, or it will continue to lose them in large numbers, as Russian troops effectively control the Ukrainian army’s rear with drones.