Błaszczak did not say Patriot systems already arrived in Ukraine – Polish Defense Ministry
In an interview with the Spanish publication La Razon, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense of Poland Mariusz Błaszczak did not say that Ukraine had already received the Patriot air defense system, but stated that the decision to transfer this air defense system to Kyiv was approved thanks to Poland's efforts.
The Ministry of National Defense of Poland said this following an information request submitted by an Ukrinform correspondent.
"Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense of Poland, Mariusz Błaszczak wanted to stress (in an interview with La Razon - ed.) that thanks to Poland's efforts, a decision was made to transfer the Patriot battery," the ministry said, emphasizing that first Polish Leopard tanks are already in Ukraine.
The ministry noted that a mention by the Polish minister in the Spanish publication about the Patriot air defense system’s arrival in Ukraine was obviously a translation mistake.
La Razon published an interview with Polish Minister of National Defense Mariusz Błaszczak and wrote that Ukraine had already received the Patriot air defense system. Some Ukrainian media outlets shared the news, referring to the publication.
As Ukrinform reported, in late December 2022, the U.S. State Department announced an $850 million military aid package for Ukraine, which includes, among other things, the Patriot air defense system.
Poland has already sent to Ukraine its first four Leopard 2 tanks out of 14 that Warsaw intends to transfer to Kyiv.
Photo: Mariusz Błaszczak