Zelenskyy: Ukraine has received around 12 Patriot missiles a month from US this year
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Ukraine has received an average of 12 missiles per month for its Patriot air defence systems in 2026, yet it needs to intercept around 150 Russian ballistic missiles a month.
Source: Zelenskyy in a comment to the press, as reported by Ukrinform
Quote: "We buy a lot [of weapons] from the US. Europe paid for them, everything arrived, and everything was fine. But some things are a real challenge, especially Patriot missiles. In 2026, we've been receiving an average of 12 missiles a month."
Details: Zelenskyy said he works every day to secure interceptor missiles and has to seek new aid packages every week to protect Ukraine from Russian ballistic missile attacks.
He said US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has signed off on a package of 12 missiles, but approval is still needed for a further 23 missiles that Ukraine has sourced from other countries.
Quote: "The US has a package of 12 missiles, and he's signed off on it. That's great. But we've used 35 just this month. The issue now is getting approval for another 23 that I've secured from other sources."
Details: Zelenskyy also said he had asked US President Donald Trump during a meeting in New York to approve a "winter package" of missiles. He said he had specified how many missiles Ukraine needed and told Trump that if the request were approved, Ukraine would not strike oil refineries.
When Trump asked where the missiles would come from, Zelenskyy named the countries that have them. According to Zelenskyy, Trump replied that the US would do everything it could to help, but it also needs missiles itself and has limited supplies.
Background: On 26 October, Zelenskyy announced that Kyiv has been waiting for nearly a month for Pete Hegseth to sign off on missiles for Patriot and NASAMS air defence systems. He said he had instructed his team to discuss the matter with the US again.
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