The Pentagon has announced its intention to expedite the delivery of Patriot air defense missiles and artillery ammunition to Ukraine as part of its updated military aid package.

However, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin clarified that the Patriot systems required for launching the missiles will not be included.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the urgent necessity of Patriots to counter the escalating Russian air threat, asserting that they have the potential to save lives immediately.

Reports from Ukraine indicate that Russia conducted another extensive air assault, resulting in damage to a hospital in Kharkiv and energy facilities in three regions.

Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko disclosed that the attack involved cruise missiles, S-300 surface-to-air missiles, and Iskander ballistic missiles, with Ukrainian defenses successfully intercepting 21 of them through aircraft, air defense systems, and jamming techniques.

Furthermore, Ukraine claimed to have targeted two Russian oil refineries near the border, with footage suggesting significant damage at one location in the Russian region of Krasnodar, although local authorities denied substantial harm.

Russian authorities reported the downing of approximately 68 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Secretary Austin affirmed the United State's commitment to providing its most extensive security assistance package to date, pledging immediate action to deliver the supplies to Ukraine.

He disclosed that $6 billion from a $60 billion aid package signed into law by President Joe Biden on Wednesday would be allocated for this purpose, with an additional $1 billion earmarked for more immediate assistance.

The assistance would include air defense munitions, counter-drone systems, and artillery ammunition but not Patriot missile systems.

"It's not just Patriots that they [the Ukrainians] need, they need other types of systems and interceptors as well," Mr Austin said. "I would caution us all in terms of making Patriot the silver bullet."

Mr Austin added that he was confident that more of the missile systems would be made available for Kyiv soon. Conversations were ongoing with European partners, he said, to deliver additional capabilities.

The Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Charles Brown, said the assistance should eliminate the Ukrainians' need to ration shells on the frontline.

Some of the latest funding would also go to building up Ukraine's defense industry so that it can start manufacturing more of the ammunition it desperately needs.

Mr Austin said Russia had already increased domestic production of artillery ammunition and other weapons - as well as being propped up by supplies from Iran and North Korea.

"Understand what's at stake for Ukraine, for Europe, and for the United States," he said. "If Putin prevails in Ukraine - Europe would face a security threat it hasn't seen in a lifetime. Russia will not stop in Ukraine."

Asked whether the US aid would protect Ukrainian forces, Mr. Austin said that the commitment was "material, real, and substantial" although "not instantaneous".

"It's going to take some time to get it in there and distribute. The Ukrainians were able to hold - with this capability, they can do a lot better."

The defense secretary's words came as Ukraine warned on Friday that Russia was ramping up attacks on its railways.

A Ukrainian security source told the AFP news agency that Moscow wanted to damage Ukrainian railway infrastructure to "paralyze deliveries and movement of military cargo".

Ukraine only has a handful of Patriots to complement other Western missile defense systems and existing stocks of Soviet-era surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), such as the S-300.

The Patriots are the most capable and expensive air defense systems that Ukraine has. Each Patriot battery costs around $1bn (£800m), and each missile costs nearly $4m.

Germany has already promised an extra Patriot system - and its defense and foreign ministers appealed to their European counterparts earlier this month to respond urgently.

Greece has stocks of Patriots and S-300s but said none could be spared.

"We explained why we cannot do it," Greek Prime Minister Kyrios Mitsotakis told Skai TV. His said his country's air defences were "critical systems for the protection of Greek air space".

According to reports, Spain will supply some Patriot missiles but not a full system.

Recent months have seen Kyiv step up its calls for Western assistance as its stocks of ammunition are depleted and Russia makes steady gains.

Ukrainian officials have blamed delays in military aid from the US and other Western allies for the loss of lives and territory.

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