Ukraine’s air defenses were unable to intercept any of the ballistic missiles launched by Russia during a large overnight strike on July 6, underscoring what officials describe as a critical shortage of interceptor systems and mounting pressure on Kyiv’s air defense capabilities.
Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Colonel Yurii Ihnat confirmed that 29 ballistic missiles fired during the attack were not shot down, calling the result a deeply concerning outcome for Ukraine’s defensive capacity.
“The interception success rate is low, to put it mildly,” Ihnat said, adding that Ukraine currently lacks the means required to reliably counter ballistic missile threats.
He explained that while Ukraine operates air defense systems, the decisive factor is access to sufficient interceptor missiles, which remain in short supply.
“To shoot down ballistic missiles, you need the assets to do so. We have enough systems, but what we need is a steady supply of missiles,” he said.
