Russia Selensky celebrates third German Patriot system

Ukraine has strengthened its air defenses against Russian attacks and feels a little safer.

"The German Patriot has arrived," said President Volodymyr Zelensky in his evening video address. Germany has provided Ukraine with three Patriot air defense systems, the third of which, according to Selenskyj, has probably reported operational readiness.

"We will be able to do more in the sky," Selensky continued. "Of course, there is still a lot to do, and protection is far from guaranteed, but it is still a gain for Ukraine."

Selenskyj has repeatedly emphasized in recent weeks that Ukraine needs more air defence systems to comprehensively protect its airspace. The figures he has given for the number of Patriot systems required vary between six and 25, but it is unclear how many systems have been delivered so far and whether they are all still operational.

Russia is constantly bombarding Ukraine with new air strikes. The Ukrainian air defenses are either tested by so-called kamikaze drones, which usually attack in waves, or by missile and air attacks with special remote-controlled glide bombs, which are guided to the target by fighter pilots.

Combine harvester hit by combat drone in Ukraine

Meanwhile, the driver of a combine harvester was killed in a Russian drone attack in the Sumy region in eastern Ukraine. His co-driver was seriously injured in the attack in the afternoon, Ukrainian media reported, citing the local prosecutor's office. The combine harvester was harvesting in a field.

Russia has been waging a war of aggression against Ukraine for over two years. Russian troops have been attacking both civilian and military targets.

Fighting has subsided slightly

The fighting in Ukraine died down slightly on Sunday. The General Staff in Kiev reported only 58 armed clashes on the various sections of the front; this figure is usually over 100. The heaviest fighting was reported in the regions around Kharkiv and Kupyansk in the east. "Our steadfast defenders are thwarting the occupiers' plans and inflicting irreparable losses on the enemy through their professional actions in extremely difficult conditions," the statement said.

New Russian troops near Kharkiv

The Ukrainian military is watching Russian troop reinforcements in eastern Ukraine with suspicion. New units have been stationed near Hlubokoye in the Kharkiv region, reported Nazar Voloshin, spokesman for the Ukrainian troops defending the area. Among other things, an assault force of the naval infantry of the Russian Pacific Fleet and parts of a rifle division had been brought into the area.

The Russian military had launched a major operation targeting Kharkiv at the beginning of May. However, the aim of the attack was not to conquer the large city, but rather to establish a buffer zone between the Ukrainian positions and the nearby Russian border. Moscow wanted to stop the constant Ukrainian artillery attacks on Russian territory.