The Rubikon Center, an elite drone unit operating under the Russian Ministry of Defense, released a video on 27/3 from a drone reportedly tracking a "Ukrainian Patriot position" near Vasilkovskoe village in Zaporizhzhia province.

The footage shows what are believed to be two launchers and an AN/MPQ-53 fire control radar, all situated within fortified earthen berms. Drones, seemingly Lancet models, then struck these targets.

UAVs from Russia targeted what is believed to be a Ukrainian Patriot position in Zaporizhzhia province on 26/3. *Video: Rubikon*

"The attack destroyed the AN/MPQ-53 radar and two launchers," Rubikon stated.

The Ukrainian military has not yet commented on this information.

Western countries have provided Ukraine with many modern air defense systems, with Patriot and SAMP/T being the most powerful. Ukraine's Patriot systems are equipped with the latest US-made PAC-3 MSE missiles, which cost an average of 4 million USD each and can intercept ballistic missiles at a range of 60 km.

However, Ukraine's air defense network has recently been overwhelmed and is running low on ammunition, with many Patriot systems also targeted and destroyed by Russia. Ukrainian officials admit that Patriot systems face a serious challenge due to the rapid depletion of interceptor missiles, outpacing the rate of aid from partners, as each battery often needs to fire multiple expensive rounds to bring down a single Russian Iskander-M missile.

The situation has worsened with the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East. US media reported on 25/3 that the Pentagon is considering redirecting some interceptor missiles, ordered under NATO's Priority Request List of Ukraine (PURL) program launched last year, to the Middle East.

Location of Vasilkovskoe village in Zaporizhzhia province. *Graphic: RYV*

Two US officials stated that the Pentagon informed the US Congress of its intention to use about 750 million USD from the PURL fund to replenish US military stockpiles, rather than sending more weapons to Ukraine. It remains unclear whether European countries are aware of this plan.

After the US and Israel launched military operations against Iran, European partners expressed concern that Washington was depleting ammunition too quickly. This could delay existing orders and impact efforts to aid Kyiv through PURL.

Nguyen Tien (According to AFP, AP, RIA Novosti, TASS)