Ukraine has effectively acknowledged that it has depleted its stock of interceptor missiles for the Patriot air defense system, a key tool in countering Russian ballistic missile attacks.
In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on August 1, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated, "Only 1 of the 27 ballistic missiles was intercepted," attributing this to a lack of interceptor missiles for the Patriot system. He added, "The shortage of ballistic missile interceptors is encouraging Russia to continue its deadly attacks."
According to Zelensky, Russian forces launched 35 missiles, including 27 ballistic missiles, and 185 various attack drones toward Ukraine overnight. The capital city of Kyiv was particularly targeted, with strikes also reported in the Dnipro, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Poltava regions.
In Kyiv, fires and damage to facilities occurred in seven districts. Eighteen residential buildings, a school, the Lithuanian embassy, and infrastructure were damaged, resulting in nine fatalities and dozens of injuries so far.
Zelensky urged Western nations to immediately provide Ukraine with the Patriot interceptor missiles they possess, rather than stockpiling them. He emphasized, "These resources are not meant to be stored somewhere for hypothetical situations; they are urgently needed here to deter and stop Russia's war against Ukraine."
He further stated, "Every bundle of ballistic missile interceptors saves the lives of our citizens," and warned that the number of casualties increases with each night that passes without interceptors.
Zelensky called for political decisions to secure additional support, asserting that the U.S. and Europe already know what weapons Ukraine needs. He remarked, "Ballistic missile interceptors should protect people, not be stored in reserves," and cautioned that every day this essential support is delayed gives Russia another opportunity to kill our citizens.
He also demanded additional sanctions against companies and individuals supporting Russian missile production. He argued that all entities involved in the production of ballistic missiles and launchers, or supplying necessary components, should be sanctioned not only by Ukraine but also by Western nations.
Moreover, Zelensky pointed out that there are still gaps in the sanctions regime of the Group of Seven (G7) and urged for increased pressure on the energy sector to prevent Russia from restoring its oil refining capabilities.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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