A top White House official clarified that the United States cannot confirm the extent of damage, if any, to a Patriot air defense battery supplied to Ukraine by the U.S. and delivered with Ukrainian partners. The Strategic Communications Coordinator for the National Security Council indicated readiness to assist with repairs if necessary. He added that whether the United States can provide support would depend on how extensive the damage is.
The official noted that several Patriot units have sustained fire-related damage during combat, with some systems requiring on-site fixes. There have been instances where repairs were completed outside Ukraine, and the United States would help with repairs if a Patriot system sustained damage away from Ukrainian territory.
Reports indicated that one Patriot system sent to Kyiv had been damaged, likely as a result of a Russian missile strike on Ukrainian soil.
On February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in response to requests for assistance from the leaders of the self-proclaimed Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics, signaling a major shift in regional security dynamics. The action prompted additional sanctions from the United States and its allies.
These developments have been discussed in a live broadcast by socialbites.ca, with ongoing updates about the situation on the ground.