Ukraine has run out of Patriot missiles to intercept Russian ballistic attacks (CNN)

Ukraine is facing a critical shortage of Patriot interceptor missiles, leaving its cities more vulnerable to Russian ballistic attacks, according to a source cited by CNN. The information comes after the attack on Tuesday night into Wednesday, which targeted energy infrastructure in Kyiv and Kharkiv.

In the Ukrainian capital, three power plants were hit. Four people were killed, while another 25 were injured. The Ukrainian army announced the interception of four ballistic missiles, but a source cited by CNN claimed that most of the missiles were not shot down due to a lack of interceptors.

President Volodymyr Zelensky had warned as early as August about the shortage, stating that Ukraine had approximately 10% of the missiles needed for Patriot systems. A plan to manufacture these missiles in Ukraine did not materialize.

The air defense crisis is occurring amid tensions with Washington. Donald Trump called on Kyiv to stop attacks on Russian refineries, while Zelensky made that decision conditional on new deliveries of Patriot missiles.