CNN: Ukraine Has Run Out of Patriot Interceptor Missiles
In recent days, the White House reached an agreement to import Russian diesel, which drew widespread criticism. At the same time, pressure on Ukraine to halt attacks on Russian oil infrastructure has increased.
A well-informed source told CNN that Ukraine has finished the missiles of the American-made Patriot air defense system; An issue that makes this country more vulnerable to Russian ballistic missile attacks.
According to Ambassador Arjan, this important development takes place in a situation where the public disagreement between US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, has become increasingly intense.
In recent days, the White House concluded an agreement to import Russian diesel fuel, which faced widespread criticism and at the same time increased pressure on Ukraine to stop attacks on Russian oil infrastructure.
Zelensky said Trump's deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin made him feel betrayed. He has since announced that Ukraine will continue attacks on Russian refineries.
During the past months, Zelensky has repeatedly warned that the reserves of American-made Patriot interceptor missiles in Ukraine are running out; Missiles that are among the few defense weapons capable of intercepting ballistic missiles.
However, these interceptor missiles are both expensive and globally in short supply; Because other countries have used up their reserves or are trying to strengthen their defense systems amid the war in Iran.
"Almost none of the ballistic missiles fired in the last strike were intercepted because we didn't have any interceptors," the source told CNN.
During this attack, which lasted from Tuesday night to Wednesday morning, Russian ballistic missiles hit three power plants in Kiev and targeted energy infrastructure in Kharkiv. On that day, four people were killed and 25 wounded in Kyiv.
It seems that this is not the first time that the reserves of Ukraine's Patriot interceptor missiles are completely depleted. Zelensky has also repeatedly spoken publicly about his country's ongoing difficulty in securing more reserves.
In mid-August, CNN became the first media outlet to visit a Patriot system on Ukrainian soil. Ukrainian officials revealed at the time that the country's stockpile of interceptor missiles was nearly exhausted.
Zelensky told CNN in August that his days were spent making "millions" of phone calls to allies to secure deals for more Patriot systems. He said at that time that Ukraine only has one-tenth of the interceptor missiles that it urgently needs.
A month later, the president of Ukraine, in a more hopeful tone, said that his country would receive a license to manufacture Patriot missiles from the United States. However, Donald Trump ultimately refused to agree to this, and no such authorization was issued.
Tensions between Trump and Zelensky have risen in recent days; Because Washington asked Kiev to stop attacks on Russian fuel facilities, while Moscow continues to heavily target Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
In a scathing interview with the Financial Times, Zelensky said he could only agree to stop attacks on Russian energy facilities if Ukraine received at least more Patriot interceptor missiles.
He added: "When he asked for more air defense systems, America's response was to limit Starlink services."
In a public statement on Wednesday, he once again called for more reserves and said: "The American president has all the effective and necessary tools at his disposal to bring peace closer through power, justice and pressure on the aggressor." "We want more packages of Patriot interceptor missiles for Ukraine."