Zelensky urges allies to transfer Patriot interceptors and expand sanctions after strike on Kyiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on Western allies to supply interceptor missiles for Patriot air defense systems and to expand sanctions against Russia’s military-industrial complex — following a large-scale missile and drone strike that killed at least nine people in Kyiv.

The strike was carried out in the early hours of Saturday, August 1: Russia launched 35 missiles, including 27 ballistic ones, and 185 attack drones at targets across Ukraine. Kyiv was the primary target. Ukraine’s air defenses managed to intercept only one of the 27 ballistic missiles. In addition to the nine killed, more than 30 people were wounded.

The strikes damaged 18 residential buildings, a medical clinic, a film studio, supermarkets, and a depot where 25 ambulances were destroyed or seriously damaged.

Shortage of interceptors

Zelensky attributed the failure to intercept the missiles to a severe shortage of rockets for the Patriot systems.

“Last night, only one ballistic missile was shot down — simply because the Patriot systems have no missiles. It is precisely this shortage of interceptors against ballistic missiles that encourages Russia to carry out such strikes against living people,” Zelensky said in a video address posted on social media.

Addressing Washington and European capitals directly, the Ukrainian president urged partners to make a “political decision” to transfer their stockpiles of interceptors.

“Air defense missiles should protect people, not gather dust in warehouses. And every day without this vitally needed assistance gives Russia another chance to kill our people,” he said.

The appeals came at the end of a week during which Russian forces struck Ukrainian territory with approximately 1,900 drones, 1,600 guided aerial bombs, and 144 missiles.

Gaps in G7 sanctions policy

On Sunday, August 2, Zelensky warned that Russia is ramping up ballistic missile production and that many companies involved in manufacturing weapons components are still not under sanctions.

“A significant number of Russian enterprises that contribute to sustaining these attacks by producing components for drones, missiles, and guided aerial bombs have not yet come under sanctions. That is why the aggressor is investing ever more heavily in its ballistic capabilities,” Zelensky said.

He called for pressure to be applied to “every segment of Russia’s military-industrial complex,” pointed to enforcement gaps in G7 countries that allow existing restrictions to be circumvented, and demanded that international partners close the channels helping Russia restore capacity in its oil refining sector.