Reduction of ammunition supplies for air defense in Ukraine: consequences and prospects
This year, Ukraine received three times fewer air defense missiles from international partners compared to the previous year. This was reported by President Volodymyr Zelensky, pointing out the need for political decisions to improve the situation.
At a meeting with the military, the Ministry of Defense, the SBU, the GUR, and the President’s Office, the president reported that the reduction in the supply of anti-ballistic missiles continued throughout the first half of 2026. Zelensky emphasized that although partners have the necessary resources, appropriate political decisions are needed to transfer them to Ukraine. Additionally, experts emphasize the need to accelerate production processes and localize part of the production on Ukrainian territory.
At the same meeting, the priorities of the sanction policy for August were discussed. Zelensky noted that Ukraine is cooperating with international partners to strengthen sanctions pressure on Russia.
Ukraine’s need to strengthen air defense became evident after a Russian attack in early July, when none of the ballistic missiles were intercepted. This was due to a lack of appropriate ammunition. It was reported that Russian forces launched 419 aerial targets, out of which Ukrainian air defense managed to shoot down only 37 missiles and 326 drones.
In this context, an agreement on the possible production of American interceptor missiles for the Patriot air defense system in Ukraine is important. Despite the fact that the launch of production will require significant investments in specialized equipment, personnel training, and creating supply chains, such a prospect could strengthen the country’s defense capability in the long term. US President Donald Trump also announced his readiness to provide Ukraine with licenses for this production.
Overall, in 2026, Ukrainian air defense continues to repel attacks, intercepting nearly 5.3 thousand aerial targets. The Ukrainian government continues to actively seek solutions to improve the situation with ammunition supplies.
| Year | Number of missiles |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 100% |
| 2026 | 33% |
