Zelensky: 5% of US Patriot interceptors would let Ukraine survive winter

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told CNN in an interview that Ukraine currently has two and a half times fewer interceptor missiles than it did last year, while Russia now fires twice as many ballistic missiles per month as before.

Zelensky said he has asked American partners to sell Ukraine 5% of the interceptor missiles held in US stockpiles, arguing this would allow the country to get through winter and save lives. He added that if the US agreed to sell 10% of its interceptor reserves, Ukraine would be able to shoot down all Russian ballistic missiles launched against it.

Asked whether Washington had responded to his requests, Zelensky acknowledged that so far Ukraine has received only 1% of what it asked for. He explained that moving from one percent to five percent would take months, countless phone calls, and other efforts — including some he could not discuss publicly, though he stressed none of it was illegal.

Shortage worsened after war with Iran

Ukraine has reported an acute shortage of Patriot air defense systems since February, when the US and Israel entered a war with Iran. The situation is compounded by Russia's roughly weekly mass missile strikes on Kyiv, which have killed civilians and destroyed apartment buildings. In one recent attack, Ukrainian air defenses failed to intercept any of the 28 ballistic missiles launched.

In July, Russia fired more than 450 missiles of various types at Ukraine, of which around 200 were ballistic missiles. Meanwhile, Ukraine's Air Force announced on Wednesday that it will no longer publish detailed data on Russian ballistic missile attacks.