Ukraine Fails to Intercept All Russian Ballistic Missiles: "Air Defense Missile Shortage Worsening"

"Missile Support from Allies Falls to One Third"
"U.S. Also Delaying Patriot Production License"

Reuters Yonhap News Agency

Ukraine reportedly suffered massive casualties after failing to intercept Russian ballistic missiles due to a shortage of air defense missiles. While the Ukrainian government has made urgent appeals for support, it is expected that the United States will face significant difficulties providing assistance, as a considerable portion of its air defense missiles were depleted during the Iran war.

According to The New York Times on August 5 (local time), major urban areas, including the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, came under Russian attack, resulting in at least 17 deaths and more than 40 injuries. According to the Ukrainian military authorities, Russia launched 24 ballistic missiles, four hypersonic missiles, and 115 unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) that day; none of the missiles were intercepted, leading to extensive damage.

The Ukrainian government appealed for assistance, stating that the number of air defense missiles supplied by allied nations had plummeted, making it difficult to intercept Russian ballistic missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, "The number of air defense missiles supplied to Ukraine by allied nations during the first half of the year has dropped to one third of last year's level," and added, "If we had had a ballistic missile interception system, we could have saved the lives of those who died today."

The primary reason for the reduction in air defense missiles supplied to Ukraine is analyzed to be the Iran war. According to CNN, during the Iran war, the U.S. military used up 65% of its stockpiled Patriot air defense missiles and more than 80% of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missiles. CNN reported that senior U.S. commanders warned the Trump Administration that the shortage of missiles had reached a dangerous level.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump's pledge to grant Ukraine a production license for Patriot missiles has also been delayed. Last month, at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit, President Trump promised to provide Ukraine with a production license for Patriot air defense missiles, but follow-up discussions have stalled. The U.S. government is reportedly considering several options, including producing Patriot missile parts in Ukraine for final assembly in Germany, or developing a lower-cost Ukrainian version of the Patriot missile.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.