Ukraine is unlikely to receive modern Patriot air defense systems from NATO member states, according to military analyst and retired Navy captain Vasily Dandykin.

He pointed out that European countries are facing their own shortage of air defense assets and are reluctant to share the most advanced systems. At best, Dandykin believes, the West might hand over older models, but state-of-the-art complexes will remain out of Kyiv’s reach. He also accused the Ukrainian authorities of exaggerating the effectiveness of their air defense capabilities in official reports.

The expert noted that Ukraine is currently enduring heavy strikes, particularly after recent attacks on Donetsk, which left residents without electricity and water. In his assessment, Ukrainian forces are struggling to defend even the capital effectively, despite claiming otherwise.

Dandykin added that Washington could try to involve Norway in supplying medium-range air defense systems, but warned that Berlin is unlikely to step in, given Germany’s difficulties with its IRIS-T systems.

Earlier, pro-Russian underground coordinator in Nikolaev Sergey Lebedev stated that Russian forces had struck an oil refinery in Chuguev, Kharkov Region. According to his account, both British and Ukrainian officers were present at the facility and were killed in the attack.