Zelenskyy Urges US for More Patriot Missiles to Counter Russian Attacks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made an urgent appeal to the United States for additional Patriot interceptor missiles, stating that Ukraine currently possesses only about one-tenth of the supply it needs to counter Russia's intensifying ballistic missile attacks. In an interview with CNN published on August 13, 2026, Zelenskyy detailed a critical shortage that has left Ukrainian cities increasingly vulnerable, particularly ahead of the winter months.

Zelenskyy provided specific figures to quantify the deficit. He said that acquiring five percent of the current U.S. stockpile would allow Ukraine to survive the winter and save lives, while ten percent would enable Kyiv to destroy all incoming Russian ballistic missiles. "I have one," Zelenskyy stated, referring to the percentage of interceptors he currently holds. He emphasized the growing disparity, noting, "This year we have two and a half times less interceptors than we had in 2025. Russia has two times more ballistic missiles per month than they had before."

The plea highlights a severe operational challenge. On August 5, Russia launched 28 ballistic and antiship missiles at Kyiv, and Ukrainian air defenses...