USA and Germany agreed to deliver 5 Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine

The United States and Germany have agreed to provide Ukraine with five additional Patriot air defense systems, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced on July 21, according to European Pravda.

The agreement comes as Russia intensifies its long-range missile campaign, including the use of ballistic missiles—threats that only the highly advanced U.S.-built Patriot systems are capable of reliably countering.

In the early hours of July 21, Russia launched another large-scale air assault on Ukraine, deploying 426 Iranian-designed Shahed drones and a mix of missile types, including Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missiles, Kalibr cruise missiles, and Kh-101s.

Pistorius shared the news during the 29th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group—commonly known as the Ramstein group—hosted at the U.S. military base in Germany. He said the agreement was finalized during his recent visit to Washington, in discussions with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

He added that coordination with international partners on logistics and delivery timelines will continue over the coming days.

Patriot systems form a critical part of Ukraine’s layered air defense network. These systems are capable of intercepting both ballistic and cruise missiles, and they play a vital role in protecting major cities and strategic infrastructure from mass air attacks.

The new pledge follows a July 14 announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump, who introduced a NATO- and EU-supported initiative to supply Ukraine with U.S.-manufactured weapons systems through allied purchases.

Trump later stated on July 16 that shipments of Patriot systems to Ukraine were already in progress. Initially, the German Defense Ministry said it had no knowledge of any such transfers, but a spokesperson for the German government later clarified on July 14 that discussions were underway among allied nations to send at least three additional Patriot batteries to Ukraine.

To date, Washington has delivered three Patriot systems to Ukraine, while Germany has contributed three more. One additional battery has come from a European coalition. However, not all systems are currently in service, as some are undergoing routine maintenance.

The latest agreement further reinforces Ukraine’s air defense capabilities amid escalating aerial threats, reflecting sustained Western support as the war enters another critical phase.

Russia attacked Sumy Oblast with drones, injuring 11, including a 5 child

Russian forces launched a drone strike on Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy Oblast on July 21, injuring 11 people, including a 5-year-old boy, local officials reported.

That evening, drones targeted civilian infrastructure in the Putvyl community, according to Sumy Governor Oleh Hryhorov, who shared the information on Telegram.

Hryhorov initially stated around 10:00 p.m. local time that four people—including the young child—were injured and received medical attention, though none required hospitalization. Later updates confirmed the number of injured had risen to 11.

A fire broke out at the scene, and emergency crews continued working to contain the damage, the governor said.

Russian troops have entered Pokrovsk in Donetsk oblast

Russian forces have entered the front-line city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, according to open-source battlefield monitoring group DeepState and accounts from Ukrainian soldiers on the ground, reported on July 22.

Located roughly 67 kilometers (41 miles) northwest of occupied Donetsk, Pokrovsk has become one of the most intense flashpoints in Russia’s offensive across eastern Ukraine.

A Ukrainian drone operator working in the area, speaking to the Kyiv Independent on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Russian troops had breached the city limits. However, it remains unclear whether they have managed to establish fortified positions.

DeepState reported that Russian units infiltrated Pokrovsk from the direction of Zvirove several days earlier, capitalizing on weakened Ukrainian infantry positions and flawed situational awareness. The breach prompted an urgent redeployment of Ukrainian forces to stabilize the front and avert a potential collapse.

Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on July 18 that Ukrainian troops were holding firm in the face of repeated Russian assaults. In a June assessment, Syrskyi had already described Pokrovsk as the most contested location along Ukraine’s entire 1,200-kilometer front line.

According to Syrskyi, Russian forces continue to rely on small, mobile infantry units to test Ukrainian defenses but have not succeeded in seizing control of the city. He also warned that Russian troops were trying to cut key supply routes from the northern city of Dobropillia, with over 110,000 Russian soldiers reportedly concentrated in the area as of early summer.

Control over Pokrovsk is a strategic objective for Moscow as it seeks to push deeper into Donetsk Oblast and potentially threaten adjacent regions like Dnipropetrovsk.

DeepState noted that Russian units attempted to secure control over Defenders of Ukraine Street within Pokrovsk. Some were eliminated, while others remain at large. Ukrainian forces are continuing search-and-destroy operations to neutralize these groups.

The report added that Ukrainian troops sustained casualties during these operations, including incidents of friendly fire, highlighting the risks posed by poor battlefield intelligence and the fluid nature of urban combat.

DeepState cautioned that infiltration reports must be carefully verified, given the volatility of the situation and the difficulty of obtaining real-time, accurate data.