Russian missiles destroy Patriot systems as drone attacks escalate

Russian forces destroyed two Patriot missile systems in Ukraine, Russian media reported on Sunday, citing the Russian defense ministry. After Ukrainian drone attacks, a state of emergency was declared in parts of the Voronezh region in Russia.

Many of the reports provided by Russian media or government representatives are propaganda. They are part of the information war carried out by the Russian Federation.

According to the Russian defense ministry, an Iskander missile destroyed two Patriot systems around the city of Yuzhne in the Odessa region. The USA, Germany, and the Netherlands sent the Patriot systems to Ukraine. Romania is expected to send another one. President Volodymyr Zelensky assessed that Ukraine needs at least seven such systems to defend the country.

Meanwhile, the governor of the Voronezh region, which borders Ukraine, Aleksandr Gusev, announced on Telegram that after the Ukrainian drone attack, which caused a fire in an explosive materials warehouse, a state of emergency was introduced in some areas.

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

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

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

Analysts emphasized that, according to Putin, any agreement between Russia and Ukraine should not result in a ceasefire because it would allow Ukraine to regroup and rearm. In contrast, Russia instead advocates for the "complete" 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 surrender of a significant part of Ukraine's territory and population under Russian occupation and the capitulation of Ukrainian forces.