Ukraine has received its third German Patriot air defense system, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced in a video message on Sunday evening.

"Of course, there is still a lot of work to be done and the protection is far from being fully guaranteed, but it is still a victory for Ukraine," Zelensky stated.

In recent weeks, Ukraine has emphasized its urgent need for more air defense systems. According to Zelensky, the country requires between 6 and 25 Patriot systems to fully secure its airspace. The exact number of systems delivered so far and their operational status remain unclear.

Western allies are aware of Ukraine's pressing need for enhanced air defense support. The delivery from Germany is part of a commitment made during a NATO summit in Washington earlier this month. At that summit, U.S. President Joe Biden announced a "historic" donation of air defense systems from the U.S., Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, and Italy.

Despite these efforts, Russia continues its aerial bombardment of Ukraine. Ukrainian air defenses are being challenged by kamikaze drones, often deployed in waves, and remote-controlled hover bombs aimed by pilots at their targets. A Russian attack on Sunday afternoon in the Sumy region resulted in the death of a combine harvester driver. Photo by Mark Holloway from Beatty, Nevada, USA, Wikimedia commons.