Germany starts sending Patriot systems to Poland
The Welt TV channel broadcast the start of the convoy movement from the town of Gnoien in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Ukrinform reports.
Anti-aircraft systems are to deploy to operational positions in the area of the city of Zamosc in southeastern Poland, which is approximately 60 kilometers from the Ukrainian border and 110 kilometers from the Ukrainian city of Lviv. It should be noted that next to the deployment site is an important railway transshipment station for civilian and military cargo bound for Ukraine.
The convoy of vehicles from Germany is to cover 1,100 kilometers.
Bundeswehr soldiers have been in place in Poland since January 16 to ensure the installation of weapons system components together with Polish Alliance partners. The units are integrated into the NATO airspace defense system on the eastern flank.
The purpose of the move, as explained in the Bundeswehr, is to "protect the airspace of Poland and strengthen NATO's eastern flank."
The Patriot battery consists of a fire control vehicle, surveillance and fire control radar, electric generators, and an air defense missile carrier equipped with four to 16 interceptor missiles.
As reported, Germany offered Poland Patriot air defense systems after two men in Poland were killed by missile debris during a massive Russian air attack on Ukraine last November.
