Zelensky Says Ukraine Is Running Out of Patriot Missiles After Deadly Overnight Russian Attack

Ukraine has warned that its stockpile of Patriot air defense missiles is running dangerously low after Russia launched one of its largest overnight missile and drone attacks in recent months, prompting President Volodymyr Zelensky to appeal to allies for additional military support urgently.

Speaking after the strikes, Zelensky said Ukraine‘s air defense systems are struggling to keep pace with the scale of Russia’s attacks, revealing that the country managed to intercept only one long-range missile during the latest assault.

According to the Ukrainian president, Russia fired 35 missiles, including 27 long-range missiles, alongside 185 attack drones during the overnight bombardment.

“Our air defense resources are becoming exhausted,” Zelensky said, calling on Ukraine’s Western partners to accelerate the delivery of Patriot interceptor missiles and other defensive systems needed to protect civilians.

The overnight assault caused significant destruction across several regions, with Kyiv bearing the brunt of the attack.

Ukrainian authorities said at least nine people were killed and more than 30 others injured in the capital alone as missiles and drones struck residential areas and civilian infrastructure.

Explosions were also reported in the regions of Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, Kharkiv and Poltava, highlighting Russia’s continued strategy of targeting multiple parts of the country simultaneously to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defenses.

The latest barrage comes as Ukraine faces increasing pressure to defend its skies while awaiting additional military assistance from Western allies. Patriot systems, supplied by countries including the United States and Germany, have become one of Ukraine’s most effective defenses against Russian ballistic and cruise missiles.

However, Patriot interceptors are expensive, produced in limited numbers, and require continuous resupply, making them increasingly difficult to sustain as Russia maintains frequent large-scale aerial attacks.

Zelensky has repeatedly urged partner nations to expedite deliveries of air defense systems, arguing that protecting Ukraine’s cities also contributes to the security of Europe as a whole.

The latest attack is expected to add urgency to ongoing discussions among Ukraine’s allies over additional military aid, particularly as Russia continues to intensify its long-range missile and drone campaign against Ukrainian cities.