Vitaly Saenko18:31, 15.10.26

These circumstances make Ukraine more vulnerable to Russian ballistic missile strikes.

Ukraine has run out of missiles for its American-made Patriot air defense system , making the country more vulnerable to Russian ballistic missile attacks, according to CNN, citing a source familiar with the matter.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly warned that Ukraine is running low on American-made Patriot interceptor missiles. These interceptors are one of the few defense weapons capable of intercepting ballistic missiles.

However, the interceptors are expensive and in short supply globally, as other countries have exhausted their own stockpiles or sought to bolster their defense systems amid the Iran war.

According to a CNN source, “almost all of the ballistic missiles from the latest strike were not intercepted due to a shortage of interceptor missiles.” Specifically, Russian ballistic missiles struck three thermal power plants in Kyiv and struck energy infrastructure in Kharkiv during the attack on the night of October 14.

This isn’t the first time Ukraine has completely run out of Patriot interceptors, and Zelensky has been vocal about his ongoing struggle to secure larger stockpiles.

In mid-August, CNN became the first media outlet granted access to Patriot systems in Ukraine, and Ukrainian officials disclosed that the country was nearly out of interceptors. Zelenskyy then announced that his days were spent making “millions” of phone calls to allies about collaborating on agreements to obtain more Patriots. In August, the Ukrainian president noted that Kyiv had only a tenth of the urgently needed interceptor missiles in its arsenal.

A month later, Zelenskyy’s tone became more encouraging, with the assertion that Ukraine would “receive licenses from the United States to produce Patriot missiles.” However, US President Donald Trump ultimately declined to say whether he approved this decision, and the licenses were never granted.

This was before relations between Zelenskyy and Trump became increasingly tense in recent days, following Washington’s agreement to import Russian diesel fuel and increasing pressure on Ukraine to stop its attacks on the Russian oil industry.

Problems with weapons

Earlier this week, the Trump administration warned Ukraine and its European allies that the United States could suspend European purchases of American weapons through the PURL mechanism and the provision of intelligence information to Kyiv unless Ukraine halts long-range strikes against Russian energy facilities, according to two European officials.

Warnings from the US State Department and the Pentagon were sent over the weekend to officials in Ukraine and Europe, including direct communications from US military officials to Ukrainian commanders.

At the same time, Trump insisted that the US had not stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine.

If the Trump administration decides to suspend European arms purchases through the PURL mechanism, this would jeopardize any future deliveries of Patriot interceptors.

Patriot Missile Shortage

As UNIAN reported, during a meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House this summer, Zelenskyy requested an urgent “winter package” of Patriot interceptor missiles to defend against Russian ballistic missiles. Specifically, the request was for 300 interceptors.

At the same time, Trump refused to provide Ukraine with 300 interceptor missiles for the Patriot systems.

On October 9, Trump announced that he had reached an agreement with war initiator Vladimir Putin to supply millions of tons of diesel fuel to the American and global markets.

Trump’s decision outraged Zelensky . The Ukrainian president stated that any easing of sanctions against Russia without a clear and long-term de-escalation agreement with it is a clear sign of weakness.

In turn, the United States stopped sharing intelligence information with Ukraine, as it allegedly repeatedly asked Ukraine to stop striking Russian oil refineries.

Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine could make concessions to the United States and stop attacks on Russian oil refineries, but in exchange, it asks for Patriot missiles to defend against Russian attacks .

(c)UNIAN 2026