CNN reported depletion of Patriot missile stocks in Ukraine

Ukraine has exhausted its stockpiles of interceptor missiles for American Patriot air defense systems, making it more vulnerable to Russian ballistic missile strikes. This was reported by CNN on October 15, citing a source familiar with the situation.

According to the channel's source, the critical shortage of ammunition has already affected the results of air defense during recent Russian attacks.

"Almost all ballistic missiles during the last strike were not intercepted due to the lack of interceptor missiles," — a CNN source said.

This refers to a massive attack on the night of October 14, when Russian forces struck energy infrastructure in Kyiv and Kharkiv. According to the channel, four people were killed in the capital and 25 were wounded as a result of the attack.

However, no official confirmation of the complete depletion of Patriot stocks from the Ukrainian military command is provided in CNN's report. The exact number of remaining interceptors is also not disclosed.

Patriot remains one of the few types of Western air defense systems capable of intercepting Russian ballistic missiles. Therefore, the shortage of ammunition for these systems directly affects the ability to protect Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure.

The shortage of Patriot missiles has become especially acute amid the war in the Middle East. The United States and its allies have spent significant stocks of interceptors to repel Iranian attacks, and other countries are seeking to preserve their own reserves.

As a result, Ukraine is forced to compete for a limited number of missiles, production of which cannot keep up with growing international demand.

Back in August, President Volodymyr Zelensky told CNN that Ukraine has only a tenth of the required number of interceptors. At that time, he admitted that he was almost daily negotiating with foreign leaders trying to secure additional supplies.

In September, Zelensky reported prospects of obtaining an American license to produce Patriot missiles. However, as CNN notes, U.S. President Donald Trump subsequently did not confirm final agreement to such a deal, and the license has still not been granted.

Additional uncertainty is created by the deterioration of relations between Kyiv and Washington. The Trump administration demands Ukraine stop long-range strikes on Russian oil infrastructure, while Russia continues to attack Ukrainian energy facilities.

Zelensky said in an interview with the Financial Times that he would consider halting strikes on Russian energy facilities on the condition of receiving additional Patriot missiles. At the same time, he criticized the U.S. side for restricting Starlink operations instead of strengthening Ukrainian air defense.

According to CNN, the Trump administration has warned Ukraine and European allies of the possibility of suspending arms sales to European countries and intelligence sharing with Kyiv if strikes on Russian energy infrastructure continue.

This information was confirmed to the channel by two European officials. The warnings were reportedly conveyed through State Department and Pentagon channels. Trump himself claims that the U.S. has not stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine.

Potential restrictions on American supplies are especially dangerous for the further replenishment of Patriot stocks. European countries purchase American weapons for Ukraine, including through the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) mechanism, created to fund Kyiv's most urgent military needs.

If Washington restricts such purchases, future deliveries of interceptor missiles needed for defense against ballistic strikes could also be threatened. So far, this concerns warnings rather than an official halt in supplies.

Against this backdrop, Zelensky once again appealed to the American president with a request to provide additional batches of Patriot missiles. The Ukrainian leader emphasized that Washington has the necessary tools to increase pressure on Russia and bring the war closer to an end.

Based on materials from: CNN, Financial Times.