Ukraine’s Defense Minister Calls for Patriot Missile Transfers After Russia’s Latest Mass Attack

Ukraine’s Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said he will hold urgent talks on July 6 with counterparts from countries that possess stocks of Patriot air defense missiles, urging them to transfer interceptors to Kyiv following Russia's latest large-scale missile attack.

In a statement published on social media, Fedorov said Russia is deliberately exploiting Ukraine's shortage of Patriot missiles by intensifying its ballistic missile strikes.

According to the minister, Russia is launching ballistic missiles at a faster rate than Patriot interceptors are currently being produced worldwide.

Fedorov said he would ask allied defense ministers to temporarily provide missiles from their existing stockpiles, with the understanding that they could later replenish those inventories through future deliveries.

He noted that Ukraine has already signed contracts for additional Patriot missiles, but deliveries are not expected to begin until next year.

“The simplest solution for our partners is to temporarily allocate these missiles from their own stockpiles. This will save countless lives of our citizens. We cannot allow cautious bureaucracy to become a barrier to protecting human life,” Fedorov wrote.

His appeal echoed calls by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who urged Ukraine's allies to approve additional Patriot interceptor deliveries at this week's NATO summit in Ankara.

In a statement, Zelenskyy said Ukrainian air defenses had successfully intercepted cruise missiles and attack drones during Russia's overnight assault but lacked sufficient Patriot interceptors to counter ballistic missiles.

Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat likewise said the shortage of Patriot missiles was the main reason Ukraine failed to intercept any of the ballistic missiles launched during the attack.

“Our warriors showed good results today in intercepting drones and cruise missiles, but unfortunately not Russian ballistic missiles. And the reason is precisely the insufficient supply of interceptor missiles,” Zelenskyy said.

Overnight July 6, Russia launched another large-scale missile and drone attack against Ukraine. In Kyiv, the assault triggered multiple fires, damaged residential and commercial buildings, and trapped residents inside a high-rise apartment block in the city's Podilskyi district.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy later confirmed the death toll had risen to 11, while 60 people were reported injured.

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