Empty Patriot launchers, Ukraine faced air defense gaps amid Russia's energy strikes — FT
Patriot missile systems stood idle during Russian strikes (photo: Getty Images)
Due to a critical shortage of Pac-3 interceptor missiles for Patriot systems, Ukrainian launchers were left empty last month, unable to counter ballistic strikes on energy infrastructure, according to a Financial Times report and an interview with Yurii Ihnat, Head of the Communications Department of the Ukrainian Air Force Command.
Read also: Bad weather and air defense gaps complicate Ukraine's response to Russian attack - Air Force Command
Empty launchers during attacks
Colonel Yurii Ihnat said Ukraine's air defense faces serious challenges when ammunition runs out faster than supplies from partners arrive.
"Some air defense systems sometimes stand empty while attacks still need to be repelled," he noted, highlighting the difficulty for the country's air defenders.
According to the FT report, the shortage reached a point last month where Patriot systems could not respond while Russian ballistic missiles struck Ukrainian power plants unimpeded.
Scale of attacks on energy infrastructure
Since the start of 2026, Russian forces have already carried out 217 attacks on Ukraine's energy sector.
The Kremlin's main goal remains to freeze the country and pressure its leadership into capitulation.
Despite frequent outages and a strained energy system, surveys from the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology indicate that these attacks have not shaken Ukrainian resolve or created a widespread demand for concessions to Russia.
Zelenskyy on air defense
Ukraine has repeatedly urged Western allies to speed up the delivery of air defense systems and missiles.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has emphasized that delays in weapons deliveries directly impact the protection of critical infrastructure under constant ballistic threat.
He noted that while Ukraine's Defense Forces have significantly strengthened protection against Russian drones, the current level of defense remains insufficient, especially at key and most vulnerable locations.
Commenting on another Russian attack, Zelenskyy said air defense fire units will be reinforced. At the same time, he expressed dissatisfaction with the Air Force's performance in certain regions, particularly in destroying Shahed kamikaze drones.
The president also announced planned personnel changes within Air Force units responsible for countering these drones, aiming to significantly improve the effectiveness of small-scale air defenses in the most critical areas.
