U.S. relocates Patriot missiles to aid Ukraine amid tensions
As reported by Axios, the U.S. military transported approximately 90 Patriot air defence missiles from Israel to Poland this week. The missiles are intended to be delivered to Ukraine.
The American military transported approximately 90 Patriot air defence system missiles from Israel to Poland this week. According to the American portal Axios, they are set to be transferred to Ukraine. The missiles come from the Israeli army stockpile, which has been withdrawn from service.
The largest weapon shipment from Israel to Ukraine
This is the most significant weapon shipment from Israel to Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion of the country, which occurred almost three years ago. Citing three sources familiar with the matter, Axios reported that American C-17 transport aircraft flew from one of the military bases in southern Israel to Rzeszów.
Patriot systems were withdrawn from the Israeli armed forces in April 2024 after more than 30 years of service. Previously, they were mainly used for training as Israel developed its air defence systems. After announcing the Patriots' withdrawal, Kyiv authorities requested the USA and Israel to renew and send them to Ukraine.
The decision behind transferring the Patriots
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initially did not want to discuss the transfer of the weaponry but changed his mind in September. The Israeli Prime Minister was then seeking President Volodymyr Zelensky's approval for the annual pilgrimage of ultra-Orthodox Jews to Uman to the grave of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov. A Ukrainian official told Axios that Zelensky would not take a call from Netanyahu regarding the pilgrimage until the issue of the Patriots was addressed.
Netanyahu's spokesman denied that the Patriot issue was related to Zelensky's consent to the pilgrimage. The Pentagon did not comment on the matter. A senior Israeli government official informed Axios that Jerusalem had informed Moscow about the decision regarding the Patriots, emphasising that Israel is "only returning this equipment to the USA" and not delivering it to Ukraine.
Zelensky wrote on social media that he spoke with Netanyahu, discussing the "maintenance of partnership with the United States and their new president, Donald Trump."
Despite Kyiv's requests, Israel has not previously provided military assistance to Ukraine but has supplied humanitarian aid shipments. According to the media, the USA transported a portion of artillery ammunition stored in warehouses in Israel to Ukraine.
In 2023, when the Israeli Prime Minister was asked for a comment on Israel's government policy regarding support for Ukraine, Netanyahu stated, among other things, that Jerusalem's assistance to Kyiv would be limited due to concerns about the arms falling into the wrong hands.
Last year, Israel provided Ukraine with an early warning system against air attacks known as Tzewa Adom.
