The German Defense Minister, Boris Pistorius, has visited an air defence position and an energy facility in Kyiv that had been targeted by Russian attacks. The defence position has been countering Shahed drones.
Pistorius and the rest of the German delegation were shown how Ukraine’s sky protection system operates using modern systems for countering Shahed-type drones, mobile fire groups and technologies that help intercept enemy targets.
The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine says the country was subjected to more than 1,000 ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as 27,000 Shahed-type drones over the winter. The primary target, the ministry says, was the country’s energy infrastructure, aiming to trigger large-scale blackouts during temperatures as low as -20°C.
Germany has been and remains a significant player in bolstering Ukraine’s air defence. It has supplied missiles for Patriot systems; financing for PURL – a NATO-coordinated mechanism designed to rapidly procure and deliver critical defence equipment, particularly air defence systems; and launched an initiative for the urgent transfer of additional missiles from European stockpiles during the most critical winter period.
According to the Ukrainian Minister of Defense, Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s military is now intercepting around 90% of enemy drones and nearly 80% of cruise missiles. “Ballistic missiles remain a difficult challenge, but together with Germany we are working on solutions – additional Patriot missiles, the PURL mechanism, and the creation of Europe’s own sovereign counter-ballistic capability,” said Fedorov.
Fedorov and Pistorius have also signed a letter of intent to launch Brave Germany for the development of defence technologies and support for innovative startups. The initiative provides grant support for Ukrainian and German startups working on critically important areas of defence tech.
For more information
Ministry of Defence of Ukraine
Image: Ministry of Defence of Ukraine
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