Ukraine depletes Patriot air defence interceptor stocks

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 16 Oct, 07:08 · Archive

Ukraine has exhausted its supply of interceptors for its US Patriot air defence system as Russia continues ballistic missile attacks.

Ukraine has exhausted its supply of interceptors for the US Patriot air defence system, its primary weapon against Russian ballistic missiles. According to a source familiar with the shortage, almost all ballistic missiles from recent Russian strikes were not intercepted due to the lack of interceptor missiles. The attacks caused significant damage, hitting a Ukrainian power plant and killing four people in Kyiv despite an announced energy ceasefire between the countries.

Patriot interceptors are crucial to Ukraine's defence against Russia's ballistic missile campaign. The advanced interceptors are roughly the size of a large truck and represent a key part of Ukrainian air defences. Ukraine has struggled to defend against these attacks despite matching and surpassing Russia in drone warfare.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has publicly requested the licences needed to manufacture Patriot interceptors within Ukraine. Last month, Zelensky claimed that President Trump gave the green light for Ukraine to obtain these licences. However, Trump has been unclear about whether he approved the arrangement, and so far the licence deal has not come through. Patriot missiles are part of America's advanced munitions arsenal and take approximately two years to produce, though the Trump administration is reportedly working to accelerate production.

How it is being reported

• How British missiles could stop Putin smashing Ukraine this winterUkraine is running out of Patriot interceptor missiles - its only hope may now be to strike back directly at RussiaThe i Paper · 16 Oct, 06:52
• Ukraine runs out of US Patriot missile interceptors as Russia pummels cities: reportUkraine has depleted its stash of interceptors for its Patriot air defense system in a dangerous development as Russia continues to pound its land with brutal ballistic missile attacks.New York Post · 15 Oct, 19:50

In this story: Ukraine · Russia · Volodymyr Zelensky · Donald Trump · Kyiv · United States

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