Ukraine’s air defences could collapse in weeks without US missiles, expert warns

Ukraine’s air defence system could cease to function within one to two weeks without fresh deliveries of American missiles, a military expert, Thomas Tyner, has said.

"Everything depends on how many ballistic missiles the Russians launch. If attacks are heavy, the stockpile of Patriot PAC-3 interceptors will be depleted within one to two weeks," said the analyst, Caliber.Az reports, citing German media.

He warned that without Patriot missiles, Ukraine's air defence will be unable to counter large-scale missile barrages carrying significantly more explosives than the Iranian-designed Geran-2 drones currently in use by Russian forces.

Ukraine has become heavily reliant on the U.S.-supplied Patriot system to protect its cities and infrastructure amid intensified Russian strikes. Concerns over ammunition shortages have grown amid uncertainty surrounding the future of Western military aid.

The Patriot PAC-3, developed by Raytheon, uses hit-to-kill technology to intercept ballistic threats at ranges up to 160 kilometres, making it a cornerstone of Ukraine’s defence against Russia’s sophisticated missile arsenal.  

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged the U.S. to reconsider the pause, summoning a senior U.S. diplomat to emphasise that “any delay” encourages Russian aggression. Zelenskyy’s call with Trump on July 5 focused on air defence needs, with Trump acknowledging Ukraine’s reliance on Patriots but offering no firm commitments.

By Khagan Isayev