Ukraine is facing a severe shortage of missiles for its Patriot anti-aircraft systems, while some of them have fallen out of use due to a lack of ammunition, CNN reports.
According to CNN, a media outlet that has gained access to a Patriot system on Ukrainian territory, the first 16 launchers in the country show signs of continued use. However, operators said some of them have not been used for about a month and a half, while another system has not been activated for about two and a half months.
One of the Patriot operators described the situation as particularly difficult, saying it's painful to have the system but not have the missiles to intercept threats coming from the air.
Ukraine has not disclosed the exact number of Patriot missiles it has left. President Volodymyr Zelensky has said the country needs about 5% of the US stockpile to get through the winter, while it currently has about 1% of the amount it requires.
It has not been announced how many missiles these percentages represent, nor what the total amount of American stockpiles is.
Missile shortage is a global problem
According to CNN, the problem doesn't just affect Ukraine. Patriot missile stocks have also been put under pressure due to their heavy use in the conflict with Iran during March and April.
Patriot missiles are used to intercept aerial threats, but their cost is much higher than that of some of the targets they are intended to take out. A missile can cost around $2 to $3 million, while some drones cost just a few thousand dollars.
The wealthy Gulf states are believed to have used hundreds of missiles. The Foreign Policy Research Institute has estimated that coalition forces used an average of about 225 missiles per day during the first four days of the war with Iran.
Production is not enough to cover demand
Another problem is the pace of production. Lockheed Martin, the company that makes the Patriot missiles, produced 620 of them during 2025.
In January, the Pentagon signed a seven-year agreement with the company to increase production to 2,000 missiles per year by 2030.
Global demand for these missiles has increased significantly, while production takes time to adapt to new needs.
Zelensky calls for missile production in Ukraine
Ukraine has also sought the opportunity to produce Patriot missiles itself, with the approval of the United States.
In an interview with CNN, Zelensky said he had proposed to American companies Raytheon and Lockheed Martin to build factories in Ukraine, offering them ownership and control of the facilities.
"It will be your company, with our 'minds' and hands, with our engineers," Zelensky said, describing his proposal.
So far, according to CNN, Ukraine's request remains without a final answer.
