Ukraine is in critical need of US-manufactured Patriot interceptor missiles, specifically the PAC-3 Patriot interceptor, because Russia launches 20-40 ballistic missiles at Ukraine every month. The PAC-3 is the only weapon in Ukraine’s arsenal capable of shooting down those ballistic missiles before impact.The most common Russian ballistic missile, the Iskander-M, carries a half-ton warhead capable of leveling roughly one-quarter to one-half of a typical Ukrainian apartment building and collapsing that part of the structure on the people inside.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.According to Ukrainian Air Force officials, Ukraine was running critically short of PAC-3 interceptor missiles in June 2026 and had effectively run out by July 1. This allowed Russian strike planners to hit targets in Ukraine with ballistic missiles with impunity.During two recent major Russian missile strikes against Ukraine, on July 1-2 and July 5-6, Russia launched 24 ballistic missiles and 23 ballistic missiles, respectively. None were intercepted, and all hit their targets.On those same nights, Russia also launched high-speed Zircon missiles, which Ukrainian air defenders struggle to counter without Patriot PAC-3 missiles. Russia launched four Zircons on July 1-2 and six on July 5-6. None were intercepted.When Ukraine has had PAC-3 missiles available, its air defense units have usually shot down at least half of incoming ballistic missiles, and sometimes more than two-thirds.
The US’ PAC-3 Missile Is Too Costly and Produced Too Slowly for Ukraine’s War With Russia
Russia makes ballistic missiles roughly twice as fast as Lockheed Martin makes the interceptors designed to shoot them down — and that is unlikely to change soon.
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