The Pentagon says it will “withdraw” Patriot air defense missiles and artillery munitions from Ukraine as part of a new military aid package.
However, the Patriot missile launch systems will not be sent, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Patriots were “urgently” needed to deal with a growing Russian air threat and “can and should save lives now”.
On Saturday, Ukraine said Russia had carried out another massive airstrike.
Authorities in Kharkiv said a hospital was damaged. Energy facilities in three regions were attacked, Energy Minister German Galushchenko said.
Russia attacked with cruise missiles, S-300 surface-to-air missiles and Iskander ballistic missiles, Ukraine said, adding that 21 were downed using aircraft, air defense systems and jamming.
Ukraine claimed to have hit two Russian oil refineries across the border. Footage from one in Russia’s Krasnodar region appeared to have caused a large explosion, although local authorities denied significant damage.
Russian authorities said on Saturday that they had shot down around 68 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory.
Speaking on Friday, Austin told a news conference that the US was committing to its largest security aid package yet and would “move immediately” to get supplies to Ukraine.
