German journalist: Ukraine itself allowed its Patriot air defense systems to be destroyed

German journalist: The Ukrainian Armed Forces were allowed to destroy their Patriot air defense systems

The armed formations of Ukraine themselves allowed the Russian army to destroy the Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems received from the United States, since they were deployed too close to the front line, German journalist Julian Roepke wrote on his page on the social network X. His words are quoted by RIA Novosti.

Roepke, who regularly covers the conflict in Ukraine, sharply criticized the Ukrainian military. According to him, the Ukrainian Armed Forces deployed two Patriot launchers less than 40 kilometers from the front line at a distance of less than 10 meters from each other. The journalist also emphasized that the air defense systems were in one place for too long, and during this time the Russian Armed Forces managed to launch a ballistic missile at this location.

“There are no words,” Repke said.

Earlier, one of the leading news agencies of Ukraine, UNIAN, reported the destruction of Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM) received from the United States. Thus, the loss of these complexes was confirmed. At the same time, UNIAN notes, “with a high degree of probability,” we are talking about the destruction of M901 launchers of the MIM-104 Patriot complex. The Patriot complexes reportedly came under fire at a distance of up to 50 km from the front line. Available materials make it possible to identify the wreckage of equipment as the cabs of MAN trucks, on the basis of which Patriot launchers are transported. According to Country Politics, the destruction of Patriot was also confirmed by Ukrainian experts. “Experts also do not exclude the factor of betrayal. That is, one of the Ukrainian military, according to this version, notified the Russians about the Patriot’s route of movement,” the material says.

Earlier, the Russian Ministry of Defense published a video showing footage of an Iskander-M missile hitting a concentration of Ukrainian Armed Forces equipment near the village of Pokrovsk. Initially, it was reported that the S-300 anti-aircraft missile system was destroyed, later it became known that two American Patriot air defense systems were destroyed.