End of training in the United States of Ukrainian soldiers in the Patriot anti-aircraft system | War in Ukraine

Patriotic missile systems (here, a battery in Poland) are used to shoot down other missiles.

The few dozen Ukrainian soldiers who had been trained in the United States since the beginning of January to operate and maintain the Patriot air defense system have completed their training and returned to Europe, the Pentagon announced on Thursday.

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The US executive announced at the end of 2022 the delivery of this advanced surface-to-air missile system to Kiev, which had long requested it to counter attacks from Russia.

The Patriot missile system has long been a beacon for the United States and its allies in contested regions of the world as a coveted shield against incoming missiles.

This week, 65 Ukrainian air defense soldiers completed their training at Patriot at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and are now back in Europe, said U.S. Department of Defense spokesman Gen. Pat Ryder.

They will benefit from Patriot systems donated to Ukraine by the United States, Germany and the Netherlands, he said added.

More than 7000 Ukrainian soldiers have been trained by the #x27;US military since the start of the Russian invasion, he added.

Patriot missiles are notably capable of shooting down cruise missiles , short-range ballistic missiles and aircraft, at a much higher altitude than the defense systems that had been provided until then.