German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said an additional Patriot air defense system will start operating in Ukraine by the end of 2023, according to DPA/AFX. 

The Patriot is the most powerful air defense system within the Ukrainian army, capable of intercepting ballistic and cruise missiles launched by Russian forces. 

Overnight into 13 December, Russia attacked Kyiv with ten ballistic missiles, injuring 53 people, including 6 children, Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said. The missiles were reportedly downed by the Patriot air defense system. 

Russian night attack on Kyiv injured 53 people, damaged kindergartens, buildings, cars, critical infrastructure

In October, the German Ministry of Defense announced it would send Patriot and IRIS-T systems to Ukraine, but did not specify the timeframe for their delivery, Ukrainska Pravda has reported. 

In his statement, Scholz called Russia’s war on Ukraine a main political and security challenge for the European continent and praised the achievements of the Ukrainian Army on the battlefield, UkrInform said.

Meanwhile, on 13 December, Berlin held the first conference of the Coalition of Opportunities for the Long-Term Strengthening of Ukraine’s Air Defense, attended by about 70 participants from 22 countries, as well as representatives of the EU and NATO. 

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