Zelenskyy Seeks 300 Patriot Missiles at Kyiv Defense Summit

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hosted a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing in Kyiv on Ukraine's Independence Day to secure additional air defense interceptors. Co-chaired by UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham and the leaders of France and Germany, the summit focused on increasing pressure on Moscow and securing a package of at least 300 Patriot interceptors for the upcoming winter.

Zelenskyy highlighted a decline in missile deliveries, noting that Ukraine received 675 missiles in 2023, but projections for 2026 have dropped to 264 despite an increase in Russian strikes. The meeting coincided with a pledge of 85 billion kroner in support for Ukraine for 2027 from the Government Pension Fund of Norway.

Concurrent with the diplomatic efforts, both nations intensified long-range attacks. Ukrainian drones targeted Russian logistics sites, including Ozon e-commerce warehouses in Krasnodar and Makhachkala. Russian authorities reported that drone debris killed two children in Krasnodar. Meanwhile, Russian drone strikes in the Kharkiv region killed at least five people, including two women on an electric train.