Russia Intensifies Ballistic Missile Barrages as Ukraine Runs Short of Patriot Interceptors
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 13
Russia Intensifies Ballistic Missile Barrages as Ukraine Runs Short of Patriot Interceptors
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 13
Summary
Russian ballistic-missile attacks on Ukraine have grown more ferocious in recent weeks, with salvos now including more than 1,000 drones and dozens of missiles.
Patriot interceptor deliveries have not kept pace with that surge, leaving Ukrainian air-defense crews to ration shots against faster ballistic missiles and sometimes face attacks with empty launchers.
24-hour radar shifts and Ukraine’s vast territory are compounding the strain, as dwindling stocks must be spread across a wide range of potential targets.
Global Patriot supply is also under pressure because the interceptors are slow to manufacture and demand has jumped across the Persian Gulf after the conflict with Iran.