Blasts rock Kyiv as US plans sending Patriot air defence system to Ukraine
- Blasts in capital Kyiv come as Ukraine has faced a barrage of Russian air strikes across the country
- As Ukraine fends off more attacks, the US is poised to send Patriot air and missile defence batteries
Kyiv’s air defence systems shot down 10 Russian drones on Wednesday, the city’s mayor said, while the United States is close to finalising plans to send its Patriot air defence system to Ukraine in a potentially pivotal move in the conflict.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that air defence systems shot down 10 Iranian-made Shahed drones and that there were explosions in the central Shevchenkivskyi district.
The Kyiv administration said that two administrative buildings were damaged in the first strike on Ukraine’s capital in weeks.
Washington could announce a decision as soon as Thursday on providing the Patriot, two officials told Reuters on Tuesday. The Patriot is considered one of the most advanced US air defence systems and is usually in short supply, with allies around the world vying for it.
Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has warned Nato against equipping Kyiv with Patriot missile defences. The Kremlin said on Wednesday that Patriots would be a legitimate target for Russian strikes against Ukraine, should the United States authorise them to be delivered to support Kyiv.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said they would “definitely” be a target for Russia, but that he would not comment on unconfirmed media reports.
