Ukrainian Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara said Ukraine needs 300 Patriot interceptors from allied stockpiles now, even as Kyiv contracts for about 1,000 missiles that are expected to arrive over the coming years.

The urgent request comes as Russian missile and drone attacks have intensified across Ukraine. A Sept. 8-9 barrage struck residential, commercial, railway, port and energy infrastructure in several regions, while attacks on Kyiv have increasingly disrupted daily life and raised concerns about the country’s ability to protect major population centers.

Kyiv asks allies to release existing stocks

Khmara has urged partner governments to provide missiles from their existing inventories rather than wait for newly contracted weapons to arrive.

Ukraine is seeking about 300 Patriot interceptors for immediate use, alongside 500 air-to-air missiles capable of countering cruise missiles and additional shorter-range air-defense systems.

The request reflects a gap between Ukraine’s immediate defensive needs and the longer timetable for replenishing its missile stocks.

Ukraine has also asked the European Union to use part of a €90 billion support loan to finance purchases of Patriot systems. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU would support Ukraine’s efforts to obtain additional air-defense capabilities.

Germany sends Patriot interceptors

Germany has responded by agreeing to urgently provide additional PAC-2 Patriot interceptor missiles from its national stocks.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Russia was expected to increase its air campaign against Ukrainian infrastructure as winter approaches. Berlin also plans to expand deliveries of air-to-air missiles, drones and long-range ammunition.

Pistorius called on other countries supporting Ukraine to examine their own inventories and consider similar transfers.

The United Kingdom has separately committed £100 million to strengthen Ukrainian air defenses through the U.S.-led PURL initiative, including Patriot interceptors and other military equipment.

Russian attacks intensify across Ukrainian cities

The demand for additional interceptors follows a sharp increase in Russian long-range attacks.

Russian forces launched drones and missiles against multiple Ukrainian regions on Sept. 8-9, with Ukrainian officials reporting strikes on energy, residential, commercial and transportation infrastructure. Power disruptions were reported in Kyiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, Mykolaiv and Kharkiv regions.

Kyiv has also faced repeated large-scale attacks. Recent strikes have killed and injured civilians and damaged residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure. The attacks have increasingly occurred during daylight hours as well as overnight, placing additional pressure on the capital’s air-defense network.

Ukraine’s concern is particularly acute ahead of winter, when damage to electricity and heating infrastructure could have broader consequences for millions of civilians.

Patriot systems remain critical against ballistic missiles

Patriot systems are particularly important because Ukraine has limited alternatives for intercepting Russia’s most advanced ballistic missiles.

Unlike many drones and cruise missiles, ballistic weapons travel at extremely high speeds and follow steep trajectories toward their targets. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly said Patriot systems are essential for defending against these attacks.

Ukraine does operate other air-defense systems, but the limited number of Patriot batteries means they cannot provide comprehensive protection to every city or critical facility.

Russia can also combine ballistic missiles with cruise missiles, drones and decoys, increasing the number of threats that Ukrainian air defenses must track and engage.

Winter increases pressure on air defenses

The approaching winter is adding urgency to Ukraine’s request.

Russian attacks have increasingly focused on energy and economic infrastructure, while Ukrainian officials expect Moscow to maintain pressure on cities and critical facilities.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has also urged allies to increase military support, saying civilian casualties from the war have reached their highest level since May 2022.

Ukraine’s longer-term contracts for about 1,000 Patriot missiles could strengthen its defenses in future years, but Khmara has stressed that those deliveries do not solve the immediate shortage.

For Kyiv, the central issue is therefore whether allies can release enough interceptors from existing stocks before Russia’s winter air campaign places further pressure on Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure.

Reporting Credit: Ukrainian Ministry of Defense — Sept. 7, 2026 request for 300 Patriot interceptors from allied stocks and additional air-defense capabilities; German Federal Ministry of Defence — Sept. 8 announcement of additional PAC-2 Patriot interceptor deliveries and assessment of the expected Russian winter air campaign; European Commission — support for Ukraine’s use of EU financing for Patriot and other air-defense capabilities; Ukrainian Air Force — operational reporting on recent Russian missile and drone attacks.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a threat to target decision-making centers in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, using Russia’s new ballistic missile, the Oreshnik. This statement came just hours after Russia launched a large-scale strike on Ukraine’s energy grid overnight, which Putin described as retaliation for Ukraine’s attacks on Russian soil using U.S.-supplied Atacms missiles.

In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that any Russian attempts at “blackmail” would face a strong reply from Ukraine.

Ukraine recently used Atacms and UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles to strike inside Russia, marking the first such attacks since the invasion began in February 2022, with approval from the United States, the UK, and France.

The Russian strike was carried out over several hours, involving waves of drones and missiles hitting various locations across Ukraine. This marked the second time this month that Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has been targeted. While no casualties were reported, the attack left more than one million Ukrainians without power.

Zelensky condemned the use of cluster munitions in the attack, noting their severe risk to civilians and the challenges they present to rescue teams and repair workers. “Cluster warheads are a particularly dangerous type of weapon,” he said, adding that they significantly complicate efforts to restore vital services.

Putin confirmed that the attack involved 90 missiles and 100 drones, including the new Oreshnik ballistic missile, which he claims is “intercept-proof.” However, U.S. officials believe Russia has only a limited number of these experimental missiles and will need time to produce more.

In his nightly address, Zelensky responded to Putin’s threats, accusing the Russian president of having no interest in ending the war and attempting to force U.S. President Joe Biden to accept Russia’s terms. Zelensky also highlighted Putin’s warning that Russia would not allow Ukraine to acquire nuclear weapons, threatening to use “all means of destruction” if Ukraine ever pursued them.

This threat likely refers to recent reports suggesting that some unnamed Western officials had considered providing Ukraine with nuclear weapons, particularly before President Biden leaves office in January. Zelensky has frequently expressed frustration over the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, which saw Ukraine give up its inherited nuclear weapons from the Soviet Union in exchange for security assurances that have not been upheld.

The Russian attacks caused explosions across several Ukrainian cities, including Odesa, Kharkiv, and Lutsk. Kyiv was also targeted, but Ukrainian authorities claimed to have intercepted all missiles aimed at the capital. The attack lasted nearly 10 hours, with at least 12 regions across Ukraine, including three in the west, affected. Emergency power outages were imposed in response, with over 280,000 people in the Rivne region and 523,000 in Lviv left without electricity. In Kherson, authorities warned of power outages lasting several days.

With winter approaching, Ukrainian officials are concerned that Russia will continue its assault on the energy grid. The country has already faced bitter winters during Russia’s invasion, and the current one promises to be just as harsh. Ukraine’s energy company, DTEK, reported significant damage to its thermal plants, and this attack marks the 11th major assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure since March. Over 190 attacks have been made on energy plants since the invasion began.

Despite the destruction, Ukraine has received significant support, including up to €107 million ($89 million) worth of equipment aid from the European Commission and the U.S. to help restore power. But as temperatures drop and snow begins to fall, Ukraine braces for yet another challenging winter of war.

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Overview of the Attack
Ukraine faced a “massive” missile and drone assault from Russia, targeting critical energy infrastructure and residential areas across multiple regions. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the attacks, which were the largest since early September, involving approximately 120 missiles and 90 drones. Strikes occurred in Kyiv, Donetsk, Lviv, and Odesa, leaving at least 10 people dead.

Impact on Infrastructure and Civilians
Ukraine’s largest private energy company, DTEK, reported significant damage to its thermal energy plants, resulting in nationwide blackouts. Ukrenergo, the state-owned energy operator, announced the implementation of “restriction measures” for power usage across the country.

Hospitals and essential facilities are operating on generators, while disruptions to water and heating systems in Odesa are gradually being resolved. Despite the hardships, Ukrainians remain resilient, with many determined to protect their homes.

Kyiv and Regional Strikes
In Kyiv, missile and drone fragments were intercepted, falling in several areas without causing injuries. The city of Mykolaiv and its residents also experienced damage but demonstrated steadfast resolve. This was the eighth large-scale attack targeting Ukraine’s energy facilities this year, with DTEK noting over 190 incidents since the start of the invasion in February 2022.

Regional and International Responses
Poland scrambled fighter jets to patrol its airspace as a precaution against the strikes near its border. Hungary also remained on alert after drone attacks hit the Subcarpathian region, just 20 kilometers from its border.

Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz defended a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, emphasizing that global support for Ukraine would not waver. Meanwhile, speculation surrounds the potential policy shift from the incoming U.S. administration under Donald Trump, with concerns about a reduced focus on military aid to Ukraine.

Resilience Amid Crisis
With winter approaching, Ukrainian officials fear that the strikes are part of a renewed Russian strategy to cripple the power grid. Despite significant losses in energy generation capacity—now less than half of pre-war levels—Ukrainians have shown ingenuity and determination to survive similar assaults in previous winters.

Geopolitical Implications
The war’s trajectory remains uncertain, with Kyiv concerned about potential pressure to negotiate under the new U.S. administration. While Zelensky believes Trump’s presidency could expedite the war’s end, the Kremlin claims to see “positive” signals from the incoming U.S. leadership. For now, the grim realities of war persist, with no clear sign of resolution.

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