Ukraine said Thursday that it had received new IRIS-T anti-aircraft systems from Germany, as it looks to bolster air defenses in the face of increasing Russian missile strikes.
“Many thanks to our partners for IRIS-T. Our sky will be more protected,” said Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine’s presidential office in a post on social media.
Germany confirmed Thursday that it had supplied two IRIS-T anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine, which has repeatedly asked its Western allies for military support.
🇩🇪 Germany has handed over two more IRIS-T SLS launchers to Ukraine, the federal government's website says.
Ukraine also received almost five thousand more 155-mm caliber shells, GO12 radars, and cargo vehicles.
Thank you, Berlin pic.twitter.com/ZF3Y1ebk4l
— Iuliia Mendel (@IuliiaMendel) August 17, 2023
Ukraine bolstered its air defense systems with Western help after being pummelled by waves of Russian cruises missiles and attack drones in the early stages of Moscow’s invasion.
There are now fewer successful strikes on the capital Kyiv but Moscow has mounted increasing aerial attacks on cities in the south and west of the country.
On Tuesday, Russian missiles killed three people in the Ukrainian city of Lutsk in the west, while several missiles were downed over the city of Lviv.
