Zelensky urged the US to quickly deliver Patriot missiles.

Following recent clashes, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has requested that US President Donald Trump urgently send Patriot air defense missile systems.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks with US President Donald Trump. (Photo: Reuters )

According to sources monitoring the conflict, a series of Russian Kh-101 cruise missiles reportedly struck targets in Chernihiv province, where suspected ammunition and interceptor missiles for the Patriot air defense system are believed to have been stored.

During the night of June 3rd, the intensity of aerial combat continued to escalate, with monitoring systems recording 189 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operating over Ukraine and 394 UAVs appearing over Russian territory.

Attacks from both sides inflicted damage on numerous military and civilian targets, including logistics depots, port infrastructure, energy systems, industrial facilities, and transportation networks.

"If Ukraine is not protected against ballistic missile attacks and other types of missiles, such attacks will continue," the Ukrainian leader wrote on social media.

He emphasized that Europe needs to build its own ballistic missile defense capabilities, while asserting that Kyiv is in dire need of Washington's support in providing Patriot systems.

The Ukrainian president said the country's Patriot missile defense system is running low. Currently, it is the only air defense system in Ukraine's arsenal capable of effectively countering high-speed Russian ballistic missiles, according to The Guardian.

According to Zelensky, in the latest airstrike, Ukrainian air defenses intercepted only about half of the missiles launched by the enemy, while more than 30 penetrated the defenses and struck civilian targets.

Ukrainian soldiers stand next to a Patriot air defense system launcher in Ukraine in 2024. Photo: Reuters.

Earlier, Ukraine deployed approximately 350 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to attack multiple targets in Russian territory, including the city of Saint Petersburg. The attack took place just before the opening of the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), a major annual event chaired by President Vladimir Putin.

In response, Russia launched a large-scale overnight air campaign with 73 missiles, including 8 Tsirkon hypersonic missiles, and 656 UAVs targeting various locations in Ukraine. Key targets included the capital Kyiv, central cities such as Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia, and eastern municipalities including Poltava and Kharkiv.

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that its air defense forces intercepted 354 UAVs overnight and an additional 158 during the day, bringing the total number of devices shot down in the past 24 hours to over 500.

Meanwhile, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces stated that the drone attacks had damaged the port of Saint Petersburg and several facilities at the Kronstadt military port.

According to sources from Ukraine, the Project 20380 corvette Boyky was damaged after a UAV struck its superstructure. Several infrastructure items in the port area were also affected.

Additionally, reports mentioned an attack on the Progress defense plant in Michurinsk, Tambov province. Local officials confirmed a fire broke out at the facility following the raid.

In a related development, TASS news agency reported that the US administration is pushing through the final procedures to deploy a $400 million military aid package for Ukraine, which had previously been approved by the US Congress.

On June 3, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington could soon release details about this aid package.

Source: https://znews.vn/ong-zelensky-thuc-giuc-my-chuyen-gap-ten-lua-patriot-post1656928.html