Ukraine received 24 Patriot missiles in 90 days but needs 350 per month, Zelensky says
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine received 24 Patriot interceptor missiles from the United States over the past 90 days, while the country needs an average of 350 per month to counter Russian ballistic missile attacks. He reported that none of the 21 ballistic missiles launched at Kyiv on October 22 were intercepted and said delays in U.S. Defense Department approvals are hampering supplies.
Key points
- Ukraine received 24 Patriot interceptor missiles from the United States over 90 days.
- Ukraine needs an average of 350 Patriot interceptors per month, Zelensky said.
- The current supply rate is 12 Patriot missiles per month, according to Zelensky.
- None of the 21 ballistic missiles launched at Kyiv on October 22 were intercepted.
- Zelensky said the current monthly supply is about one-quarter of the rate under President Joe Biden.
- He said Washington was not approving deliveries of missiles largely paid for by European partners.
- Ukraine reported delays in U.S. Defense Department decisions on essential military resources.
Why it matters
The shortage of Patriot interceptors directly limits Ukraine's ability to defend against Russian ballistic missiles. Zelensky said reduced U.S. deliveries could lead to stronger Russian attacks, while Ukraine is facing delays in decisions on military resources at the U.S. Defense Department. He nevertheless said he does not feel betrayed by the United States.
What happened
Zelensky said Ukraine received 24 Patriot interceptors from the United States over the past three months, equivalent to 12 per month. He estimated that Ukraine needs an average of 350 per month and said the current supply rate is roughly one-quarter of the rate under the Biden administration. The president also reported that Ukrainian air defenses failed to intercept all 21 ballistic missiles launched at Kyiv on October 22 and said the United States was not approving deliveries of missiles funded largely by European partners. He additionally reported delays in the supply of essential military resources at the U.S. Defense Department.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian coverage focuses on the severity of the Patriot shortage, delays within the U.S. Defense Department and the consequences for Ukraine's ability to intercept Russian ballistic missiles. The main issues highlighted are the 24 missiles received over 90 days, the claimed need for 350 per month, and the reported failure to intercept the October 22 missiles launched at Kyiv.
Background
CNN reported on October 15 that Ukraine had exhausted its Patriot interceptor stocks and that almost all ballistic missiles launched during the October 14 attack went un-intercepted because of the shortage. Kyiv was also struck by 30 ballistic missiles on the night of October 30. Zelensky compared Ukraine's supplies with the use of more than 2,000 Patriot missiles by the United States and Middle Eastern countries against Iranian targets during the first days of the war against Iran. Ukrainian officials had previously said U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was refusing to approve deliveries of Patriot interceptors paid for by allies.