Russia Is Rich in Ballistic Missiles. Ukraine Is Short of Ways to Stop Them.

Article excerpt

Ukraine faces a critical shortage of American Patriot air-defense interceptors as Russia launches sustained ballistic missile attacks. The country's existing supply of these missiles, essential for protecting cities and infrastructure, is depleting faster than the U.S. and its allies can replenish it. Ukrainian officials are urgently requesting additional interceptors from Washington, but production constraints and competing demands from other allied nations complicate efforts to meet the need. Russia's vast arsenal of ballistic missiles gives it a significant advantage in this asymmetric contest, forcing Ukraine to stretch limited defensive resources across an expansive battlefield.