Ukraine’s Deadly Missile Defense Shortage
Foreign Policy
Foreign Policy
Original Source
Russian ballistic missile strikes killed dozens in Kyiv after Ukraine exhausted its Patriot interceptor supplies, with air defenses unable to stop a single ballistic missile. President Zelenskyy warns that delays by Western allies in supplying anti-ballistic systems are directly responsible for mounting casualties and infrastructure destruction.
Russian Ballistic Missile Attack Exposes Critical Shortage in Ukraine's Interceptors
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Ukraine’s Deadly Missile Defense Shortage
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Ukraine’s Deadly Missile Defense Shortage
Kyiv has run out of Patriot interceptors, but allies remain reluctant to supply more.
!An illustration of Alexandra Sharp, World Brief newsletter writer
*An illustration of Alexandra Sharp, World Brief newsletter writer*
*Alexandra Sharp*
By **Alexandra Sharp**, the World Brief writer at *Foreign Policy*.
!A fire breaks out following massive Russian ballistic missile strikes in Kyiv.
*A fire breaks out following massive Russian ballistic missile strikes in Kyiv.*
A fire breaks out following massive Russian ballistic missile strikes in Kyiv on Aug. 5. Evgen Kotenko/AFP via Getty Images
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August 5, 2026, 4:30 PM
Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at the fallout of **Ukraine**’s missile defense shortage, a possible deal to reopen the **Strait of Hormuz**, and how **SpaceX** debris crashed into the **moon**.
---
**Kyiv’s Diminishing Arsenal**
Russia’s War in Ukraine
Understanding the conflict four years on.
More on this topic
Russian forces launched an onslaught of missiles and drones at Kyiv and its surrounding area on Wednesday, killing at least 17 people, injuring around 44 others, and damaging key infrastructure for major retailers. Although Ukrainian air defenses managed to intercept nearly 90 percent of the 115 incoming drones, they failed to down a single one of the 24 ballistic missiles and four cruise missiles.
Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at the fallout of **Ukraine**’s missile defense shortage, a possible deal to reopen the **Strait of Hormuz**, and how **SpaceX** debris crashed into the **moon**.
Sign up to receive World Brief in your inbox every weekday.
---
**Kyiv’s Diminishing Arsenal**
Russia’s War in Ukraine
Understanding the conflict four years on.
More on this topic
Russian forces launched an onslaught of missiles and drones at Kyiv and its surrounding area on Wednesday, killing at least 17 people, injuring around 44 others, and damaging key infrastructure for major retailers. Although Ukrainian air defenses managed to intercept nearly 90 percent of the 115 incoming drones, they failed to down a single one of the 24 ballistic missiles and four cruise missiles.
“Ballistic missile interceptors could have saved the lives of those killed today,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wrote on X. “It is very important that our partners understand that delays in supplying them, or an unwillingness to provide anti-ballistic systems, lead directly to such horrific casualties and destruction.”
For months, Zelensky has warned of Ukraine’s shortage of U.S. Patriot missiles, which are the only weapons in Kyiv’s inventory that can reliably intercept Russian ballistic missiles. With the onset of the Iran war in February, the United States has stopped providing Ukraine with these essential weapons, instead keeping the highly sought after resource for its own use.
But now, even the United States may be running out. Last week, a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies found that the number of U.S. Patriots in stock has dropped by around 65 percent since the start of the Iran conflict. The Defense Department has requested $67 billion in supplemental funding from Congress to address this shortfall; some of these missiles take years to manufacture and deliver.
During last month’s NATO leaders’ summit, U.S. President Donald Trump tried to appease Zelensky’s appeals for aid by agreeing to give Kyiv a license to manufacture Patriot missile interceptors. But on Friday, Trump denied having done so. “It is a hard thing to give away that kind of technology,” Trump said, warning that “those people you give the technology, they could someday turn on you.” Hours later, Russian ballistic missiles killed at least nine people and injured roughly 28 others in Kyiv.
Zelensky has since shifted his attention to other potential suppliers. On Wednesday, he spoke separately with NATO chief Mark Rutte and British Defense Secretary Wes Streeting about new avenues to secure missile interceptors. He also convened his national security council to brainstorm ways to bolster anti-ballistic technologies.
“Our partners do have the missiles,” Zelensky wrote on X. “It is important that the necessary political decisions on supplies and the acceleration of production processes are ultimately made.”
But these efforts may prove to be too little, too late. European countries have failed to fast-track large-scale interceptor production over the past five years and have prioritized what technology is available for their own protection. Over the past year, NATO members have accused Russian and Ukrainian forces of launching stray drones, missiles, and aircraft into the airspaces of Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Romania, among others. That includes a suspected Russian drone incursion at Germany’s Leipzig/Halle Airport on Wednesday, which authorities believe was carrying an explosive when it collided with a cargo plane.
---
**Today’s Most Read**
* **America’s Cosmic
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Ukraine’s Deadly Missile Defense Shortage
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World Brief
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Ukraine’s Deadly Missile Defense Shortage
Kyiv has run out of Patriot interceptors, but allies remain reluctant to supply more.
!An illustration of Alexandra Sharp, World Brief newsletter writer
*An illustration of Alexandra Sharp, World Brief newsletter writer*
*Alexandra Sharp*
By **Alexandra Sharp**, the World Brief writer at *Foreign Policy*.
!A fire breaks out following massive Russian ballistic missile strikes in Kyiv.
*A fire breaks out following massive Russian ballistic missile strikes in Kyiv.*
A fire breaks out following massive Russian ballistic missile strikes in Kyiv on Aug. 5. Evgen Kotenko/AFP via Getty Images
My FP:
Follow topics and authors to get straight to what you like. Exclusively for FP subscribers. Subscribe Now | Log In
*
*
*
*
August 5, 2026, 4:30 PM
Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at the fallout of **Ukraine**’s missile defense shortage, a possible deal to reopen the **Strait of Hormuz**, and how **SpaceX** debris crashed into the **moon**.
---
**Kyiv’s Diminishing Arsenal**
Russia’s War in Ukraine
Understanding the conflict four years on.
Russian forces launched an onslaught of missiles and drones at Kyiv and its surrounding area on Wednesday, killing at least 17 people, injuring around 44 others, and damaging key infrastructure for major retailers. Although Ukrainian air defenses managed to intercept nearly 90 percent of the 115 incoming drones, they failed to down a single one of the 24 ballistic missiles and four cruise missiles.
Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at the fallout of **Ukraine**’s missile defense shortage, a possible deal to reopen the **Strait of Hormuz**, and how **SpaceX** debris crashed into the **moon**.
Sign up to receive World Brief in your inbox every weekday.
---
**Kyiv’s Diminishing Arsenal**
Russia’s War in Ukraine
Understanding the conflict four years on.
Russian forces launched an onslaught of missiles and drones at Kyiv and its surrounding area on Wednesday, killing at least 17 people, injuring around 44 others, and damaging key infrastructure for major retailers. Although Ukrainian air defenses managed to intercept nearly 90 percent of the 115 incoming drones, they failed to down a single one of the 24 ballistic missiles and four cruise missiles.
“Ballistic missile interceptors could have saved the lives of those killed today,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wrote on X. “It is very important that our partners understand that delays in supplying them, or an unwillingness to provide anti-ballistic systems, lead directly to such horrific casualties and destruction.”
For months, Zelensky has warned of Ukraine’s shortage of U.S. Patriot missiles, which are the only weapons in Kyiv’s inventory that can reliably intercept Russian ballistic missiles. With the onset of the Iran war in February, the United States has stopped providing Ukraine with these essential weapons, instead keeping the highly sought after resource for its own use.
But now, even the United States may be running out. Last week, a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies found that the number of U.S. Patriots in stock has dropped by around 65 percent since the start of the Iran conflict. The Defense Department has requested $67 billion in supplemental funding from Congress to address this shortfall; some of these missiles take years to manufacture and deliver.
During last month’s NATO leaders’ summit, U.S. President Donald Trump tried to appease Zelensky’s appeals for aid by agreeing to give Kyiv a license to manufacture Patriot missile interceptors. But on Friday, Trump denied having done so. “It is a hard thing to give away that kind of technology,” Trump said, warning that “those people you give the technology, they could someday turn on you.” Hours later, Russian ballistic missiles killed at least nine people and injured roughly 28 others in Kyiv.
Zelensky has since shifted his attention to other potential suppliers. On Wednesday, he spoke separately with NATO chief Mark Rutte and British Defense Secretary Wes Streeting about new avenues to secure missile interceptors. He also convened his national security council to brainstorm ways to bolster anti-ballistic technologies.
“Our partners do have the missiles,” Zelensky wrote on X. “It is important that the necessary political decisions on supplies and the acceleration of production processes are ultimately made.”
But these efforts may prove to be too little, too late. European countries have failed to fast-track large-scale interceptor production over the past five years and have prioritized what technology is available for their own protection. Over the past year, NATO members have accused Russian and Ukrainian forces of launching stray drones, missiles, and aircraft into the airspaces of Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Romania, among others. That includes a suspected Russian drone incursion at Germany’s Leipzig/Halle Airport on Wednesday, which authorities believe was carrying an explosive when it collided with a cargo plane.
---
**Today’s Most Read**
* **America’s Cosmic
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Source: Foreign Policy
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