By Holly Honderich & Will Vernon, in Washington
Getty ImagesThe Pentagon says it will “rush” Patriot air defence missiles and artillery ammunition to Ukraine as part of its new military aid package.
However Patriot systems for launching the missiles will not be sent, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Patriots were “urgently” needed to face a growing Russian air threat and “can and should save lives right now”.
On Saturday, Ukraine said Russia had carried out another massive air attack.
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 defence systems and jamming.
Ukraine claimed to…
