CNN: Ukraine has run out of Patriot interceptor missiles

Ukraine has run out of interceptor missiles for U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems, CNN reported, citing a source familiar with the matter who said almost none of the ballistic missiles in the latest major strike were intercepted.

Ukraine has run out of interceptor missiles for its U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems, CNN reported on Thursday, Oct. 15, citing a source familiar with the situation, leaving the country more exposed to Russian ballistic missile attacks.

"Almost all the ballistic missiles from the last strike were not intercepted due to lack of the (interceptor) missiles," the source said. Overnight into Oct. 14, Russian ballistic missiles struck three power plants in Kyiv and energy infrastructure in Kharkiv, killing four people and injuring 25 in Kyiv.

A shortage since the summer

A Patriot launcher (file photo)

CNN had reported in August that Ukraine’s interceptor stocks were nearly exhausted. Volodymyr Zelensky said then that Ukraine needed about 5% of the U.S. Patriot stockpile to get through the winter but had only about 1%. A promised U.S. license to manufacture Patriot interceptors never materialized.

The Patriot is one of the few systems capable of shooting down ballistic missiles. The report comes amid an increasingly bitter public feud between U.S. President Donald Trump and Zelensky, who had said Kyiv would stop striking Russian energy facilities only in exchange for more Patriot missiles.

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