Israel agreed to transfer Patriot systems – they are already in Ukraine

Patriot systems that were protecting Israeli airspace are now in Ukraine, Israeli Ambassador to Ukraine Michael Brodsky said in an interview with Marichka Dovbenko.

"There is, for example, a system that is very well known here in Ukraine - the Patriot system, which saved us in the early 90s, when there was the first Gulf War. Then we received Patriot systems from the United States. And, by the way, these systems are now in Ukraine. These are Israeli systems that were in service with Israel in the early 90s. We agreed to transfer them to Ukraine. And unfortunately, not much has been said about this, but when they say that Israel did not help militarily, it is not true," he said.

In May 2024, it was reported that the Israeli army (IDF) was abandoning the use of American Patriot air defense systems. At that time, it became known that they would be replaced with weapons with more advanced technologies.

Let us remind you that Ukraine has repeatedly requested the transfer of Patriot systems to its partners to protect against massive Russian attacks. These systems have demonstrated high effectiveness, in particular in repelling Russian hypersonic Kinzhal missiles.

In May 2023, Patriot successfully intercepted the first Kinzhal over Kyiv, marking a turning point in the fight against this type of Russian weaponry. The successful use of Patriot made it possible to strengthen the air defense of Ukrainian cities.

However, Ukraine still lacks these systems. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in April 2025 that our country is ready to buy ten Patriot air defense systems from the United States for $15 billion, and European partners are ready to help with the corresponding financing.

In May 2025, The New York Times reported that the Patriot system, which was based in Israel, would be sent to Ukraine after modernization.