Nikita Shenderovsky11:52, 30.01.26

The missile shortage arose because Europe did not allocate enough money to purchase missiles for air defense systems from the United States.

A lack of funding led to a shortage of air defense missiles , and the Russians were able to target the Ukrainian capital’s energy infrastructure. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated this during a meeting with journalists, according to Ukrayinska Pravda .

Journalists recalled that Russia had launched heavy strikes against energy infrastructure, hitting a significant number of targets in Kyiv. Zelensky noted that he knew in advance that the Defense Forces would be unable to repel this attack:

“In Ukraine, Russian attacks are targeting TPP-6, TPP-5, and TPP-4 in Kyiv, but I know that the ballistic missile defense divisions are empty. Simply empty. Imagine: I know that ballistic missiles are flying against our energy sector; I know that Patriot missiles are deployed; and I know that there will be no power because there are no missiles to defend against.”

According to the president, the deficit is due to a lack of funding for the purchase of PAC-3 missiles in the United States, which are capable of intercepting ballistic missiles.

“The US isn’t giving us missiles for free. We may have different opinions on this. But Europe is paying for them, and the PURL tranche hasn’t been paid. The missiles haven’t arrived. I’m simply stating what’s happening. That’s why I’m saying we need to be on the same page emotionally and informationally. The PAC-3s arrived a day after we were practically blackout,” Zelenskyy noted.

(C)UNIAN 2026