Ukraine deploys two more Patriot missile systems

Image of Patriot launchers shared by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence on 1 January 2026. (Ukraine's Ministry of Defence)

Ukraine has deployed two more Patriot surface-to-air missile systems to undisclosed locations, Ukraine's Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced in a press release on 1 January 2026.

Ukraine received the two Patriot systems from Germany, according to the Ukrainian MoD. On 17 December 2025, Ukraine signed a series of agreements worth more than EUR1.2 billion (USD1.4 billion) with the German government. “We especially value the delivery of two pledged Patriot systems,” Ukraine's Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal was quoted saying in the 17 December press release from the Ukrainian government.

One of the agreements signed in December includes long-term supply of spare parts for Patriot systems currently used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).

The Patriot missile system can intercept Russia's 3M22 Zircon (also known as 3M22 Tsirkon) and Kinzhal (Kh-47M2) hypersonic missiles, which can reach speeds of up to 11,000 km/h and 16,000 km/h respectively, according to the Ukrainian MoD release. The 3M22 Zircon was designed as a vertically launched anti-ship hypersonic missile, which can reach speeds of Mach 8–9, which is approximately 9,800 km/h to 11,110 km/h, according to Janes Weapons: Naval . It has been used in surface strikes against Ukraine. The Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic missile was developed for the Russian Aerospace Force and can reach speeds of up to Mach 10, which is around 12,350 km/h with some sources suggesting it could be as high as Mach 12–13 (14,820 km/h to 16,055 km/h), according to Janes Weapons: Air Launched .