Italy may suspend supply of Aster missiles to Ukraine’s air defence forces, - media
Italy may effectively suspend the supply of Aster missiles for air defence systems to Ukraine, as it wishes to retain them for its own defence. Instead, a significant part of the new aid package may consist of generators and equipment for repairing energy infrastructure.
The Italian news agency ANSA reports this, according to Censor.NET.
Secret package
The contents of the next Italian military aid package for Ukraine, like those of previous ones, are classified. The Italian Defence Minister, Guido Crosetto, has refused to disclose its contents.
"I still can't reveal the contents of the parcel," he said.
According to ANSA, the package may include the transfer of components that will continue to ensure the operational capability of the Italian-French SAMP/T battery previously transferred to Ukraine. However, the availability of additional stocks of Aster missiles, with which this system is armed, may be reduced.
Reasons for suspension
ANSA does not rule out the possibility that Italy may, "soon, if not immediately", effectively suspend the supply of such missiles, as Germany has already done with regard to Patriot missiles.
Possible reasons include the need to safeguard national security and avoid depleting arms stocks. Furthermore, the industry may not be able to ramp up production quickly enough.
- According to the publication, Crozetto has also explained in recent days that the nature of the threats has changed over time, and that, as regards some of Kyiv’s requests – particularly concerning air defence – there are no options available. Therefore, ANSA reports, the scale of the aid packages has diminished over time, but this, he says, does not mean that support has ceased.
Energy assistance
The publication reports that Russia is attempting to break the civilian population by disrupting heating supplies in winter wherever possible, and has been targeting energy and electricity infrastructure for several months now. That is why, according to ANSA, a significant proportion of the Italian aid package will consist of generators and components for repairing damaged infrastructure.
