Ukraine’s armed forces report shortage of interceptor missiles for ground platforms and aviation

Yuriy Ignat, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force, has reported a shortage of interceptor missiles not only for Patriot systems but also for ground-based and aviation platforms.

He made the statement on air during a telethon.

“Even missiles on ground platforms and aviation platforms are in short supply,” Ignat stressed.

According to the spokesperson, on August 23 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held talks with the leaders of northern European countries, and in each of the conversations the strengthening of Ukraine’s air defenses was discussed — “especially during the autumn-winter period.”

The issue of a shortage of missiles for Patriot systems has also been raised by other Ukrainian officials. On August 21, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said that Kyiv was struggling to “claw out” missiles for Patriot air defense systems. The following day, August 22, Zelensky stressed that Ukraine needs interceptors for Patriot systems in order to survive the coming winter.

Earlier, on August 17, CNN reported that Ukraine had almost run out of interceptor missiles for Patriot systems and that the Ukrainian armed forces were unable to use these systems against Russian ballistic missiles.

Previously, one of the United States’ allies refused to transfer missiles for Patriot systems to Ukraine.