Ukraine Gets New German Air Defense System Amid Escalating Russian Strikes

(MENAFN) Ukraine has received a new German-made IRIS-T air defense launcher, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed on Sunday, as the country continues to seek additional military assistance to counter intensified Russian air attacks, according to reports.

In a message posted on social media platform X, Zelenskyy said: “Yesterday, we received a new IRIS-T launcher,” while expressing gratitude to Germany for its continued support. “Thousands upon thousands of lives have been saved thanks to such strong support,” he added.

The IRIS-T system forms part of Ukraine’s multi-layered air defence network, which relies heavily on Western-supplied equipment to protect cities and critical infrastructure from ongoing missile and drone strikes. The launcher can carry eight missiles and may be mounted on either trucks or tracked vehicles, with an engagement range of up to 40 kilometres depending on the variant.

Zelenskyy also stated that Russia had launched more than 2,300 attack drones, around 1,560 guided aerial bombs, and 108 missiles over the past week, with many strikes hitting residential areas and energy facilities.

While acknowledging Germany’s assistance, he stressed that Ukraine still requires more interceptor missiles to maintain adequate defensive capacity. He warned that shortages remain a serious concern, particularly as Kyiv seeks stronger protection against ballistic missile threats, which the IRIS-T system is not designed to intercept.

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