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Zelenskiy requests 300 Patriot missiles from US as Ukraine shelter scandal deepens
Ukrainian President Zelenskiy made an urgent call for Patriot missile defense systems from the US after Russia's attack on Kyiv. Former government spokesperson Mendel stated that despite billions of dollars spent, shelters are inadequate and the population remains unprotected.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy reiterated his urgent request for Patriot air defense missiles from the US following Russian missile strikes on the capital Kyiv that killed dozens. In a statement on social media, Zelenskiy stressed that partners must take the necessary political decision to provide these systems.
Meanwhile, former Ukrainian government spokesperson Luliia Mendel told Fox News Digital that despite billions of dollars spent, the country's civil protection infrastructure is in a major crisis. Mendel said there were 'scandalous situations' regarding shelters and that people had nowhere to take cover.
Inspections find 93% of shelters deficient
According to a June statement by Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets, 93% of the 1,066 shelters inspected nationwide were found deficient. Some shelters were reported to be locked, flooded, or inaccessible for people with disabilities.
According to Reuters, Kyiv has spent billions of hryvnias on shelters since 2022. Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced that after spending approximately 7 billion hryvnias between 2022-2025, they allocated 1.1 billion hryvnias (about 26 million dollars) for repairs in 2026.
Zelenskiy asks Trump for 300 Patriots
In a July interview with Axios, Zelenskiy stated that he had urgently requested about 300 Patriot interceptor missiles from US President Donald Trump before winter. The Ukrainian leader said, 'We needed the Patriots yesterday.'
However, former spokesperson Mendel argued that 300 Patriot missiles might not be enough, as Russia is conducting intense air strikes along the front and no missile system can completely stop that. Mendel stated that Ukraine's main problem is the lack of a comprehensive civil protection system.
Trump, meanwhile, made statements indicating caution on technology transfer. At Camp David, he told reporters, 'The people you give this technology to might one day turn against you. So we have to be very careful.'
International coalition and ongoing problems
The Civil Protection Shelter Coalition, launched by Ukraine and Finland in May 2025, gathered more than 22 million euros in commitments for shelter construction at its first meeting. Despite this, Mendel reported that thousands of shelters fail to meet basic standards and that regular evacuations are taking place from front-line areas.
Prime Minister Sergii Koretskyi ordered nationwide inspections on July 30 after a major Russian attack due to access problems to shelters.
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