Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that his country possesses only a fraction of the air defense missiles required to counter Russia's escalating ballistic missile attacks.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, citing international media reports, the Ukrainian leader emphasized that he is dedicating his time to intensive diplomatic efforts and phone calls to secure necessary ammunition supplies.
Zelenskyy noted that Russia has significantly increased its ballistic missile strikes in recent weeks, with the capital, Kyiv, being a primary target. He warned that Ukraine's missile reserves are nearing depletion, with current stockpiles being 2.5 times lower than in 2025, while Russia has doubled its monthly production of ballistic missiles.
"If the US sold us 5 percent of its reserves, we could survive the winter and save lives. If they sold 10 percent, we could destroy all of Russia's ballistic missiles. Currently, I have only 1 percent of that," Zelenskyy stated. He also highlighted that US military commitments in the Middle East have negatively impacted the supply of missiles to Ukraine.
Zelenskyy referenced a statement by US President Donald Trump regarding the potential for Ukraine to receive a license to produce its own Patriot missiles. However, the Ukrainian leader noted that no concrete progress has been made on this front, describing the current situation as one of the greatest challenges since the beginning of the war.
The ongoing conflict has placed immense strain on Ukraine's military infrastructure. Air defense systems, particularly the US-supplied Patriot batteries, have been crucial in protecting urban centers from high-precision strikes. The international community remains focused on the scale of military aid, with ongoing debates regarding the sustainability of long-term support for Kyiv.
