Zelensky Asks US For 10% Of Patriot Systems To Counter Russian Missiles

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged the United States to provide more Patriot interceptor missiles, arguing that Ukraine needs five percent of US stocks to protect its population through the winter and 10 percent to counter Russia’s ballistic missile attacks. His appeal comes as Ukraine faces an acute shortage of Patriot interceptors and increasing Russian missile barrages against cities, including Kyiv.

In an interview with CNN published Thursday, Zelensky said Ukraine had received significantly fewer Patriot interceptors this year than in 2025, while Russia had increased the number of ballistic missiles it fires each month. He argued that supplying five percent of US stocks would help Ukraine maintain its air defence through the winter, while 10 percent would allow Ukrainian forces to intercept Russia’s ballistic missile attacks more effectively.

Zelensky's comments come amid growing pressure on Ukraine's air defence network. Kyiv has recently faced large-scale Russian attacks roughly once a week, with strikes killing civilians and damaging or destroying residential buildings. In one recent attack, Ukrainian forces were unable to intercept any of the 28 ballistic missiles launched at the country, underscoring the difficulty of defending against this type of weapon.

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Ukraine has reported shortages of Patriot interceptors since the United States and Israel became involved in the conflict with Iran in February, when demand for advanced air-defence systems increased. Ballistic missiles present a particularly difficult challenge because they travel at high speeds and follow steep trajectories, making them harder to intercept than many cruise missiles and drones.

Zelensky indicated that Washington had so far provided only limited assistance in response to his requests. He also suggested that Ukraine was pursuing additional options to secure interceptors but declined to disclose details, saying some of the measures could not be discussed publicly. His remarks reflect the urgency Kyiv attaches to replenishing its air-defence stocks ahead of the winter period.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has reduced the amount of detailed information it publishes about Russian ballistic missile attacks. The Ukrainian Air Force said it would no longer provide specific figures on the number of ballistic targets launched, intercepted or otherwise neutralised, while continuing to issue real-time warnings and broader information about Russian missile attacks. Russia fired more than 450 missiles at Ukraine last month, including nearly 200 on ballistic trajectories, according to Ukrainian figures.

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