Ukrainian leaders have seen Russian missiles rain down on their cities, reducing homes to ruins. They have asked their Western allies for something they could use as a shield. And on Wednesday, they received their first shipments of Patriot missile systems.

The Patriot can target aircraft, cruise missiles and shorter-range ballistic missiles. They are produced by American manufacturers. The first shipments came from the US, Germany and the Netherlands.

Ukrainian leaders have not specified how many they received. However, Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said their skies are "more secure."

Officials of the US Defense Department announced on Wednesday yet another round of military aid. They will resupply the Ukrainians with ammunition, including more artillery rounds, in a package valued at 325 million dollars.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been frustrated about delays in getting such weapons. He visited with troops in the Volyn region on Wednesday, near the border area shared with Russia's closest ally, Belarus. The troops have built fortifications they hope would stop another offensive.

Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu made his own visit to a strategic missile base in the Kaluga region on Wednesday. Officials in Moscow have warned that providing the Ukrainians with Patriot systems would be "provocative" and could lead to "unpredictable consequences."