Two Patriot systems reportedly destroyed in Ukraine: Conflicting claims emerge

Russian forces destroyed two Patriot missile systems in Ukraine, Russian media reported on Sunday, citing the Russian defence ministry. The Ukrainian side has already responded to these reports, stating that the Russians only destroyed mock-ups of the launchers.

Much of the information provided by Russian media or government representatives is propaganda. Such reports are part of the information war conducted by the Russian Federation.

According to the Russian defence ministry, an Iskander missile destroyed two Patriot systems in the vicinity of the city of Yuzhne in the Odessa region. So far, the United States, Germany, and the Netherlands have sent Patriot systems to Ukraine. Romania is set to deliver the next one. President Volodymyr Zelensky assessed that Ukraine needs at least seven such systems to defend the country.

Mykola Oleschuk, the Ukrainian Air Force commander, has already stated that the Russians only destroyed mock-ups of the Patriot launchers. "Stay calm and united! The enemy is cunning, but we are stronger!" he wrote on Telegram.

Meanwhile, the governor of the Voronezh region bordering Ukraine, Alexander Gusev, announced on Telegram that after a Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire in an explosives warehouse, a state of emergency has been declared in some areas.

"Explosions of explosive devices continue," he stated. He added that there were no casualties, but some residents were evacuated. According to him, the fire was caused by debris falling from the shot-down drones.

The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote on Saturday about the current situation on the front in Ukraine. According to analysts, Vladimir Putin used a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to express opposition to negotiations for a ceasefire and to emphasize his aim for the "final" end of the war, which would mean the destruction of Ukrainian statehood.

Experts stated that there is a glaring contradiction between attempts to blame the West and Ukraine for the lack of negotiations and Putin's outright rejection of any ceasefire agreement.

Analysts emphasized that according to Putin, any agreement between Russia and Ukraine should not result in a ceasefire, as it would allow Ukraine to regroup and rearm, while Russia instead advocates for the "total" and "final" end of the conflict. Putin, as consistently shown by his statements and demands, wants the destruction of Ukrainian statehood and identity. He demands both the ceding of significant parts of Ukraine's territory and population to Russian occupation and the capitulation of Ukrainian forces.