Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: Amid reports that Moscow’s ammunition is fast depleting in the Ukraine war, forcing it to use the misfiring Soviet-era stuff, President Vladimir Putin’s poor health, and, increasingly, Russian ‘soldiers’ refusing to fight an unnecessary war in an ‘inhospitable foreign territory,’ the US is upgrading the Ukrainian arms with “Patriots” missile batteries to quickly end the nearly 10-month-long conflict which has overturned the World Order, geopolitics, and global economy.
Ahead of Christmas, the US is finalizing plans and awaiting President Joe Biden’s nod to send Patriots air and missile defense batteries to Ukraine, fulfilling a key demand from the war-ravaged country, the media, quoting American officials, reported on Wednesday.
Alexander Khodakovsky, a Russian militia commander in Donetsk, appeared on Russian state television calling for the use of nuclear weapons because he doesn’t believe Russia has the resources to win, the reports said.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has urgently sought the system, produced by Raytheon Technologies Corp. and Lockheed Martin Corp, saying they need Patriots to counter the relentless barrage of Russian missiles, which have targeted Ukraine’s military and civilian and energy infrastructure.
A State Department spokesperson said President Biden has been clear that the US will prioritize sending air defense systems to Ukraine to help it defend against Russian aggression.
Pentagon spokesperson Brigadier-General Pat Ryder said the US would keep up a “robust dialog” on Ukraine’s battlefield needs.
Amid the wanton destruction of Ukraine’s infrastructure, towns, and cities in the relentless Russian bombing, President Zelenskiy kept up the pressure for more air defenses to fend off attacks. The US is also supplying Ukraine with millions of dollars of equipment to replace generators and other energy equipment targeted by Russia and will make sure that gear doesn’t get blown up again.
Citing a European diplomat, the reports said, besides Patriots missiles, Ukraine needs tanks and longer-range rocket systems for major counteroffensives.
The Patriot missiles also require large crews with extensive training, a process that could take months.
But the Russians hope the US might not send many Patriots missiles to quickly conclude the war, which started on February 24 this year.
“It all depends on how many Patriots they are ready to send,” said Yevgeny Buzhinsky, a retired Russian general and Moscow-based defense analyst. “If they talk about several complexes, this won’t change anything. A dozen could protect a few objects. And there are thousands of them.”
In November, General Mark Miley, chairperson of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the US and its partners want to provide Ukraine with a range of air defense systems. Germany has already delivered the first of four IRIS-T systems, and Ukraine has also received an Aspide anti-missile system from Spain. Sweden announced in November to send air defenses as well.
The Patriots could provide expanded, networked coverage against Russian aircraft and missiles. It’s the most exported US missile defense system, used by nations including Saudi Arabia, Poland, and Taiwan. The most advanced version fires a missile that directly strikes the intended target, while earlier versions explode near a missile or aircraft.
Ukraine may get less advanced systems because the latest models are in such high demand, the reports added.