Nato is working to provide Ukraine with the air defences it “urgently needs”, Secretary General Mark Rutte said after Russia launched 24 ballistic missiles in an overnight attack on Wednesday. At least 17 people were killed, while Ukrainian forces reported intercepting 98 of 115 drones but none of the ballistic missiles.
The attack has sharpened concern over Ukraine’s shortage of US-made Patriot interceptors, the only system in Ukrainian service that Kyiv says can intercept Russia’s Iskander-M, S-400 and Zircon missiles. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged European and US allies to speed up decisions and deliveries before winter.
At a glance:
- Ukraine’s air force said it shot down 98 of 115 drones in Wednesday’s overnight attack but none of the 24 ballistic missiles.
- Zelenskyy said air-defence missile supplies from allies in the first half of 2026 had fallen to one-third of their 2025 level.
- Nato says Europe’s first Patriot missile production facility is expected to open in Germany in September.
- Zelenskyy warned that Russia may significantly increase ballistic-missile production before winter.
| 2025 | First half of 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Supplies to Ukraine | Baseline level | One-third of the 2025 level, according to Zelenskyy |
Wednesday’s attack exposed the interceptor gap
Ukraine’s preliminary air-force data showed that its defences stopped most of the drones used in the overnight attack. They did not intercept any of the 24 ballistic missiles, which killed at least 17 people, according to the supplied report.
Related coverage: Ukraine’s Elite Drone Force Targets Russian Infrastructure in Crimea and Beyond.
Russia frequently combines ballistic missiles with cruise missiles, drones and decoys. Ukraine says it has too few batteries and interceptors to protect all potential targets and must ration its limited supply when many threats arrive at once.
Why Patriot interceptors matter
Patriot systems are described by the Ukrainian air force as the only systems in Ukrainian service able to intercept the Iskander-M, S-400 and Zircon missiles. Ukraine has faced shortages of these US-made interceptors since the beginning of the war, but the problem has become more acute in recent weeks.
Zelenskyy attributed much of the current shortage to the war in the Middle East. The supplied report also cites an Associated Press analysis estimating that the US Patriot inventory had fallen by at least 65% from its prewar level, while the Pentagon says it retains a deep arsenal.
More context: 17 killed as Russian missiles and drones strike Kyiv region.
Winter preparations and production limits
Zelenskyy warned that Moscow was seeking to significantly increase ballistic-missile production as winter approaches. He said Russia is expected to renew attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector, while a presidential defence adviser estimated that Russia could launch 100 ballistic missiles a month against logistical hubs, industrial facilities, food stores and warehouses.
The supply problem cannot be solved immediately through new production. Lockheed Martin delivered more than 600 of the newest interceptor model in 2025 and is working toward annual capacity of 2,000 by the end of 2030. Nato says Europe’s first Patriot missile production facility is expected to open in Germany in September.
Uncertainty over a Ukrainian production deal
At a Nato summit last month, Donald Trump said the US would give Ukraine a licence to produce Patriots. About three weeks later, he said he had not made a final decision. Even if approval is granted, officials and experts cited in the report estimate that starting production in Ukraine would take years.
Talks are reportedly continuing over a possible arrangement in which Ukraine could build some components for final assembly elsewhere in Europe. No final decision on that arrangement is stated in the supplied material.
Questions readers ask
How many ballistic missiles did Ukraine intercept in Wednesday’s attack?
Ukraine’s preliminary air-force data said it intercepted none of the 24 ballistic missiles launched by Russia. It reported shooting down 98 of 115 drones fired in the same overnight attack.
Why does Ukraine need more Patriot interceptors?
Ukraine says Patriot systems are the only systems in its service able to intercept the Russian Iskander-M, S-400 and Zircon missiles. It says the number of batteries and interceptors is too small to cover all threats.
When could Ukraine produce Patriot interceptors itself?
The supplied report says production in Ukraine would take years even if the United States grants a licence. Talks reportedly include the possibility of making some components in Ukraine for final assembly elsewhere in Europe.
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