WASHINGTON — Ukraine has depleted its supply of U.S.-made Patriot missile interceptors, leaving the nation largely defenseless against ongoing Russian ballistic missile attacks, CNN reported Thursday, citing a person familiar with the situation.
The lack of ammunition became clear during an overnight barrage heading into Wednesday, when Russian strikes hit three power facilities in Kyiv and targeted electrical infrastructure in Kharkiv. The assault killed four people and injured 25 others in the capital. According to the source, almost all of the ballistic missiles launched during the strike got through because interceptors were unavailable, though Ukrainian air forces managed to take down four incoming projectiles with the remaining stocks on hand.
Global Munition Shortages
Patriot missiles serve as Ukraine’s primary shield against truck-sized ballistic missiles from Russia. However, inventories of the advanced munitions have run thin globally. Prolonged conflicts across Ukraine, Israel and the Persian Gulf, alongside the broader war involving Iran, have strained American stockpiles and supply chains throughout the West. Manufacturing a single Patriot interceptor takes approximately two years, CNN reported, though the Trump administration has attempted to accelerate output.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had previously pushed Washington to approve manufacturing licenses so Ukraine could produce the interceptors domestically. While Zelenskyy claimed last month that President Donald Trump had agreed to the plan, Trump remained noncommittal in public, and CNN reported that no licensing agreement was ever completed.
Assistance from European allies continues, though missile defense reserves remain tight across NATO. Following meetings with British leadership, the United Kingdom agreed to deliver additional Storm Shadow cruise missiles, according to Bloomberg. Prime Minister Donald Tusk of Poland also pledged fresh support, while European Union leaders gathered in Brussels resisted Trump’s suggestions to release frozen Russian assets as a bargaining chip.
Strains in the U.S.-Ukraine Alliance
The munitions deficit coincides with a sharp public rift between Trump and Zelenskyy. The White House recently negotiated a deal to import Russian diesel and pressed Kyiv to halt attacks on Russian oil infrastructure under an energy cease-fire proposal. In response, Zelenskyy called the diesel arrangement a betrayal and said Moscow never abided by any cease-fire, noting Russian forces launched more than 850 drones overnight.
Speaking to the Financial Times, Zelenskyy said he would only halt strikes against Russian refineries if Ukraine received additional Patriot interceptors at a minimum. He also told the outlet that after asking for more air defenses, American authorities responded by diminishing connectivity services.
Ukrainian officials told CNN they were caught off-guard by speed restrictions placed on Starshield, the military variant of Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite network. The throttling hindered Ukrainian military logistics and disrupted drone operations targeting Russian assets before speeds were partially restored on Thursday. Musk stated on social media that the U.S. government controls the Starshield system and determines usage limits.
Ukrainian officials also reported that the U.S. stopped providing early-warning alerts for incoming Russian ballistic launches, alerts that previously gave civilians time to take cover. What remains uncertain is whether Washington will move forward with warnings delivered earlier this week to freeze intelligence sharing and halt European arms purchases through the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List initiative if Ukraine continues deep strikes inside Russia.
