The Israeli Defence Ministry on Tuesday contradicted reports that Tel Aviv has sent several Patriot denfece system to Ukraine to help Kyiv’s defences against Russia. "Israel has not transferred such systems to Ukraine," the ministry said, while responding to media queries.
According to media reports, the Kremlin has demanded clarification from Israel over Patritos’ possible transfer to Ukraine. Ambassador Brodsky told Ukrainian media this week, that Tel Aviv has sent not one but several Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine since Russia’s full-fledged invasion in 2022. His remarks were the public acknowledgement of Israel’s direct military aid to Ukraine. Brodsky said the Patriots sent to Kyiv had originally come from the United States in the early 1990s. "These are Israeli systems that were in IDF service in the early 1990s. We agreed to transfer them to Ukraine. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been much talk about it. But when people say Israel didn’t provide military aid — that’s simply not true."
So far, Israel has maintained a neutral position over Russia-Ukraine war, with the authorities seeking to avoid open conflict with Moscow, despite Kyiv’s call for more air defefence aid from its Western allies. Israel has consistently avoided sending weapons to Ukraine, pointing to concerns about exhausting its strategic reserves and other military-related issues. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also previously cautioned that arms transferred to Kyiv might eventually reach Iran and be turned against Israel. Despite this cautious approach, last year reports emerged in media, suggesting the possible transfer of eight Patriot air defence systems from Israel. According to New York Times report, Ukraine was expected to receive one Patriot from Israel this summer.
