Ukraine is facing a shortage of missiles for Patriot, NASAMS, IRIS-T, and other air defense systems due to intense Russian shelling and difficulties with weapons supplies, which has led to the depletion of stockpiles. This was stated by Yuriy Ihnat, Head of the Communications Department of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, during a telethon interview, UNN reports.
Details
"Today we find ourselves, as they say, on 'starvation rations' regarding missiles because there are certain supply problems. This is discussed virtually every day by the President of Ukraine, the top military leadership, and the Commander of the Air Force. Our Air Force representatives are at 'Ramstein' and in other negotiating groups around the clock, where they have to literally plead for just a few missiles—5 to 10—for PAC-3, NASAMS, IRIS-T, and other systems, as the expenditure of ammunition is very high," Ihnat said.
He noted that the significant expenditure of ammunition is linked to intense Russian attacks during the winter period; specifically, Ukraine endured 15 major mass strikes on its energy infrastructure during the winter, which is why existing missile stocks require urgent replenishment.
"This conflict in the Middle East began. It is clear that they also need protection, and they spent without much economizing, unlike the Ukrainians who have been doing so for 4 years. (...) Today, the launchers within certain units and batteries are half-empty—to put it mildly. They have a limited number of missiles, but they must be there," Ihnat added.
Recall
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy is asking Western allies to accelerate the supply of air defense systems and interceptor missiles to prepare for another winter of intense bombardment, which could become the next critical moment in Kyiv's struggle against the Russian invasion.