Zelenskyy urges urgent efforts in Ukraine to start Patriot production

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is urging swift action to begin domestic production of Patriot interceptor missiles following political approval from US President Donald Trump. During a meeting at the NATO summit in Turkiye, Trump granted Ukraine the necessary licenses to produce the air defense system. Zelenskyy stated that while political approval is secured, technical teams must now finalize agreements to expedite production, addressing a critical shortage of these missiles used to counter Russian ballistic missile attacks. Although the US has provided donations, global supplies are strained, and Ukraine's usage rate exceeds US production capacity. An advisor to Ukraine's defense minister cautioned that establishing production could take many months due to complex supply chains and component manufacturing timelines.

Ukraine has intensified its attacks on Russian fuel supply routes near occupied Crimea. Between July 6 and 9, Ukrainian forces reportedly struck multiple tankers in the Sea of Azov and off the Crimean coast. Two empty tankers were attacked in Taganrog Bay on Wednesday, continuing to burn on Thursday. Earlier in the week, two tankers carrying approximately 7,000 tons of fuel each from Taganrog to Crimea were also targeted. Satellite imagery from Wednesday showed a large smoke plume from a ship near Crimea, with fires detected there since July 6. These strikes are part of Ukraine's strategy to disrupt supplies and routes into and out of Crimea.

Ukraine conducted drone attacks targeting Russian energy infrastructure, hitting two oil tankers in the Sea of Azov and several oil facilities across Russia. The strikes, which occurred overnight into Thursday, reportedly set the tankers ablaze and damaged oil depots in the Tver and Stavropol regions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that forces also struck a reserve fuel storage facility, an oil-pumping station in Ufa, and an oil-loading terminal in the Rostov region. These attacks are part of Ukraine's stated campaign of "long-range sanctions" in response to Russian aggression and the ongoing war. The strikes have contributed to a fuel crisis in Russia, leading to export bans and reported shortages in many regions.

Ukraine has conducted a significant drone offensive targeting Russia's maritime and energy infrastructure, striking 21 vessels and multiple refineries and facilities over three days. These attacks, described as reaching an "industrial scale," have disrupted fuel supplies and forced Russia to temporarily ban diesel exports. The strikes demonstrate Ukraine's growing long-range capabilities, reaching deep into Russian territory, including a refinery in Siberia. Concurrently, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy met with President Trump at a NATO summit, where the US agreed to allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot air-defense interceptors and discussed a potential drone agreement. These actions aim to pressure Russia's war effort and protect Ukraine's domestic industry.

Ukrainian drones struck multiple Russian oil facilities on Thursday, setting two oil tankers ablaze in the Sea of Azov and causing fires at an oil depot in Tver and oil reservoirs in Stavropol. These attacks, part of Ukraine's effort to disrupt fuel supplies to Russian-occupied Crimea and impose "long-range sanctions," have contributed to a fuel crisis in Russia. The strikes occurred a day after U.S. President Donald Trump pledged to grant Ukraine a license to manufacture Patriot air defense systems during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the NATO summit. Russia reported downing 73 Ukrainian drones, while Ukraine stated Russia launched 94 drones and two missiles, causing damage at 13 locations.