Ukraine has run out of interceptor missiles for its US-made Patriot air defense systems, a source familiar with the situation told CNN on Thursday — leaving it exposed to Russian ballistic missiles as winter nears.
"Almost all the ballistic missiles from the last strike were not intercepted due to lack of the (interceptor) missiles," the source said.
In that strike, overnight into Wednesday, Russia hit all three of Kyiv's combined heat and power plants and energy sites in Kharkiv, killing at least four people in Kyiv and injuring at least 25. Ukraine's Air Force downed only four of the 39 missiles fired.
Ukrainian officials have not confirmed the stockpile is empty. But Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara said Sunday that anti-ballistic supplies "are not enough to fully cover this threat," and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on October 1 that Ukraine needs at least 300 interceptors to get through winter.
The shortage is now tied to a dispute with Washington. The Trump administration wants Ukraine to stop striking Russian oil refineries, and two European officials told CNN the US warned it could suspend intelligence sharing and European-funded US weapons purchases for Ukraine — the channel future Patriots depend on — if the strikes continue.
Trump says intelligence sharing has not stopped, and US NATO Ambassador Matthew Whitaker said there had been "no change" to deliveries. The administration is also working to accelerate production of the interceptors — keeping support flowing even as it pushes Kyiv toward a ceasefire.
Zelensky told the Financial Times he could halt the refinery strikes only if Ukraine received more Patriot missiles, calling them "the minimum" he asks. "We ask for additional packages of Patriot missile interceptors for Ukraine," he said Wednesday.
With winter approaching and 300 interceptors named as the number needed, the question now is whether fresh missiles arrive before the next wave of Russian strikes — and whether Trump's ceasefire push can cool a war that keeps testing Ukraine's defenses.
Never miss a story.
Join our Telegram channel and get every article link the second it’s published.
Join Telegram Channel