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2,000 Missiles in 48 Hours for the Middle East, Just 24 in 90 Days for Ukraine, Zelenskyy Says
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Ukraine has received only 24 Patriot air defense interceptor missiles from the United States over the past 90 days, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, highlighting the limited supply of weapons needed to intercept Russian ballistic missiles as Kyiv continues to face large-scale aerial attacks.
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According to Zelenskyy in an interview with ABC News on October 24, the number of interceptors delivered to Ukraine stands in sharp contrast to the quantities used by the US and its Middle Eastern partners during recent military operations against Iran.
During the interview, Zelenskyy said that approximately 2,000 air defense missiles had been used in the first 48 hours of the war in the Middle East, compared with the 24 interceptors Ukraine received from its strategic partner over three months.
“We don’t cry, and we don’t scream, but this is very important. I am just trying to say that every missile matters.”
The Ukrainian president emphasized that every interceptor remains essential to protecting the country’s population and critical infrastructure from Russian missile attacks. Zelenskyy also raised concerns about delays in approving additional Patriot missile deliveries, including shipments already financed by European allies.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reportedly not signed documents authorizing the transfer of a substantial number of Patriot interceptors, despite the missiles having already been paid for by Ukraine’s partners.
Ukrainian officials have described the delays as a possible form of political pressure, warning that interruptions in air defense supplies could leave civilian areas more vulnerable to Russian strikes.
Ukraine’s demand for Patriot interceptors remains significantly higher than current deliveries. Kyiv has previously indicated that it requires approximately 350 missiles per month to maintain sufficient protection against Russian ballistic threats.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has maintained that Washington has not changed its policy regarding military assistance to Ukraine under the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative.
Rubio acknowledged that deliveries of interceptor missiles could experience delays because of competing demand from American allies worldwide and the need to maintain US military stockpiles.
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-efa69d4733b5af9f7cd0a642f85424a6.jpeg "Thick black smoke rises from the heavily damaged Proton-Electrotex plant in Orel, Russia, following a reported strike. (Source: Exilenova+)")
