Ukraine runs out of Patriot missiles: How Kyiv can defend against Russian strikes

Ukraine has reportedly exhausted its supply of US-made Patriot interceptor missiles, leaving it increasingly vulnerable to Russian ballistic missile attacks on cities and energy infrastructure, according to a source cited by CNN on Thursday. The shortage follows a Russian assault that struck three power plants in Kyiv and energy infrastructure in Kharkiv, killing four and injuring 25, with most incoming ballistic missiles not intercepted. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appealed for more missiles, but a proposed US license to manufacture Patriots has not materialized, and tensions with the Trump administration over strikes on Russian energy facilities complicate supply efforts. Alternatives like Europe's SAMP/T system, FrankenSAM hybrids, and fighter aircraft cannot fully replace the Patriot's specialized capability against fast ballistic threats. Global production constraints and competition from other conflicts further limit replenishment, forcing Ukraine to prioritize which targets to defend.