Fedorov said he had written to nearly 40 partner countries asking them to transfer Patriot missiles from existing stockpiles to Ukraine this month. The request would be made in exchange for future deliveries already contracted for Ukraine.
“The Ukrainian Defense Minister has already sent letters to nearly 40 partner countries requesting that they immediately transfer Patriot missiles from their existing stockpiles to Ukraine this month – in exchange for future deliveries contracted for Ukraine. He has also called on them to contribute to the PURL and JUMPSTART mechanisms,” Fedorov said on his Telegram channel.
“These are the fastest and most reliable ways to supply the necessary missiles for the Patriot system. It is critically important to make a decision on the eve of the NATO summit,” Fedorov said.
Fedorov recalled that Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense signed a record-breaking contract in April for hundreds of PAC-2 missiles for the Patriot system with Germany’s support. Deliveries under that contract are due to begin over the next few years.
Ukraine has also taken a first step towards purchasing about 100 Patriot missiles for $1 billion using an EU loan. This year, Ukraine also began receiving missiles from the stockpiles of its European partners for the first time.
Fedorov said the effectiveness of Patriot systems against manoeuvrable Iskander missiles has already more than doubled. He linked that improvement to the implementation of the NATO After Action Review standard.
“However, this is not enough – Ukraine critically needs additional missiles for its Patriot systems. They are in our partners’ stockpiles.”
“And the defense of Ukraine’s airspace depends precisely on swift decisions, scaling up the PURL mechanism, and procuring missiles through JUMPSTART,” Fedorov said. His comments placed Patriot interceptor supplies at the centre of Ukraine’s immediate air defence requirements.
Fedorov said Russia carried out one of its largest overnight attacks against Ukraine. He said the attack involved nearly 500 attack drones and 77 missiles, including 25 ballistic or hypersonic missiles.
“Thanks to the professionalism of our soldiers and support from our partners, we managed to intercept more than 90% of the cruise missiles and 90% of the Shahed-type attack drones. We thank the air defense forces who protect the Ukrainian sky day and night.”
“At the same time, shooting down ballistic missiles remains a key challenge due to a shortage of missiles for the Patriot systems,” he explained. The statement underlined Ukraine’s argument that additional Patriot interceptors are needed to counter the most difficult missile threats.
