KYIV (Web Desk) — Ukraine has run out of missiles for its US-made Patriot air defense systems, leaving the country more vulnerable to Russian ballistic missile attacks, CNN claimed on Thursday citing a source familiar with the situation.
The development comes amid escalating tensions between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over Kyiv’s attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, Washington’s reported diesel deal with Moscow, and continued military support for Ukraine.
Zelensky has criticized the US agreement involving Russian President Vladimir Putin and vowed that Ukraine will continue striking Russian oil refineries. Washington, meanwhile, has pressed Kyiv to halt attacks on Russian fuel facilities.
For months, Zelensky has warned that Ukraine faces a critical shortage of Patriot interceptor missiles. These weapons are among the few systems capable of intercepting Russian ballistic missiles, but they are expensive and in limited supply worldwide. Other countries have also been seeking to replenish their stocks amid rising security concerns and the war involving Iran.
A source familiar with Ukraine’s air defense situation said that a large proportion of Russian ballistic missiles fired in a recent attack were not intercepted because Ukraine lacked sufficient interceptors.
Russian ballistic missiles struck three power plants in Kyiv and targeted energy infrastructure in Kharkiv during an overnight assault extending into Wednesday morning. Four people were killed and 25 injured in Kyiv, according to the reported toll.
Ukraine’s Air Force previously said it intercepted four Russian ballistic missiles during the attack, suggesting that the country had only a limited number of Patriot interceptors available.
The current shortage is not believed to be the first time Ukraine has exhausted its supply. Zelensky has repeatedly appealed to international partners for additional air defense ammunition.
In August, Ukrainian officials disclosed that the country had nearly run out of Patriot interceptors. Zelensky said at the time that he was spending much of his time contacting allies and negotiating for additional supplies. He indicated that Ukraine possessed only a fraction of the missiles it urgently needed.
A month later, Zelensky expressed optimism that Ukraine could obtain a US license to manufacture Patriot missiles domestically. However, Washington did not publicly confirm that such an arrangement would proceed, and no license was subsequently announced.
Ukraine Seeks More Air Defense Support
Relations between Kyiv and Washington have deteriorated as the Trump administration has pressed Ukraine to stop attacks on Russian energy facilities while Russian forces continue striking Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Zelensky said Ukraine could consider halting attacks on Russian energy targets if it received additional Patriot interceptors. He also linked US restrictions on the military communications network Starshield to Washington’s broader pressure on Kyiv.
On Wednesday, Zelensky renewed his appeal for additional supplies, arguing that the United States could help bring peace closer by strengthening Ukraine’s defenses and increasing pressure on Russia.
The dispute has raised concerns about future deliveries of US weapons and intelligence support. Two European officials previously said Washington had warned Ukraine and European partners that weapons purchases and intelligence-sharing arrangements could be affected if Kyiv continued its deep strikes against Russian energy infrastructure.
Such a move could jeopardize future deliveries of Patriot interceptors through the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), a mechanism through which European allies help fund purchases of US weapons for Ukraine.
Trump has maintained that the United States has not stopped sharing intelligence with Kyiv.
The debate is unfolding as the US administration faces domestic pressure over rising fuel prices. Trump has blamed the Ukraine-Russia conflict for higher diesel costs, although the war involving Iran and disruptions to energy supplies have also contributed to global price pressures.
Ukraine Reports Continuing Starshield Disruptions
Ukraine is also dealing with disruptions to Starshield, the military-grade satellite communications service developed by SpaceX using the Starlink satellite network.
Ukrainian officials said restrictions introduced earlier in the week affected military operations, logistics and the interception of Russian drone attacks. The disruption reportedly complicated the use of Ukrainian drones, including systems designed to strike targets behind Russian lines and intercept incoming threats.
By Thursday, Starshield services had partially resumed. However, Ukrainian officials indicated that some limitations remained, particularly for military equipment traveling at high speeds.
SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk has said that Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government, meaning decisions about restrictions on speed or usage rest with the US military or the president.
A source in Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said services had resumed and that officials were consulting the parties involved to establish the causes and circumstances of the restrictions.
Zelensky also suggested that restrictions continued to affect Ukraine’s defensive capabilities. On Thursday morning, he said Russia had launched more than 850 attack drones since midnight, arguing that Ukraine’s ability to respond was being artificially constrained.
Ukraine’s senior diplomatic representative in Washington, Denys Sienik, said Starshield speeds had improved but had not fully returned to previous levels. Kyiv was hoping for a complete restoration of service.
Another Ukrainian official said Kyiv had not yet received a response from SpaceX or the Pentagon regarding the disruptions.
A Ukrainian drone commander also reported that restrictions on Starlink operations had prevented some strike drones from reaching their targets on Wednesday. The commander said his unit did not conduct strikes on Thursday because of adverse weather, while other Ukrainian units continued operating.
The combination of dwindling Patriot supplies, uncertainty over US military support and satellite communications disruptions presents additional challenges for Ukraine as it continues defending against Russian attacks.