Key facts
- Russia's ballistic missiles are increasingly bypassing Ukraine's air defenses.
- Ukraine faces a critical shortage of Patriot interceptor missiles.
- A recent Russian barrage killed 21 people in Kyiv, with no ballistic missiles intercepted.
- President Zelensky linked the shortage of interceptors to increased casualties.
- Ukraine is developing its own anti-ballistic system and collaborating with European countries on missile defense.
Russia's ballistic missiles are increasingly penetrating Ukrainian air defenses, posing a significant threat to cities like Kyiv. These missiles, launched like rockets and diving steeply at high speeds, leave air defense systems with mere seconds to react, a challenge that only the U.S.-made Patriot system is currently capable of meeting, according to Ukrainian officials. However, Ukraine faces a critical shortage of Patriot batteries and interceptors, leaving many areas exposed. Russia compounds this by employing a mix of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, drones, and decoys, forcing defenders to ration their limited interceptors. President Zelensky stated that a lack of interceptors "encourages Russia to launch such attacks that take human lives." He has directly linked delays in supply to "horrific casualties and destruction." Ukraine has an undisclosed number of Patriot systems, but the interceptor missiles are in short supply, with at least two needed to bring down each incoming ballistic missile. Military expert Ivan Stupak described the situation as comparable to owning a Lamborghini but having no fuel. There are also concerns about the vulnerability of the Patriot systems themselves, which could become priority targets for Russia if not relocated or concealed. Ukraine is developing its own lower-cost anti-ballistic system, Freya, and has formed a coalition with nine European countries to pursue a shared, mass-produced missile-defense capability within 12 months.