Ukraine has exhausted stockpile of Patriot missiles, reports say
Eight crew members are missing following a suspected Russian drone attack on civilian cargo ships in the Black Sea.
The San Marino-flagged vessel Wine Trader reported eight of its 12 crew members missing after a fire broke out. A second ship, the Comoros-flagged Yara Jalso, also experienced a fire, though it was initially unclear if that vessel had also been attacked. Romanian authorities stated that the fire began after Russian drones entered Romanian airspace, noting that the ships were in territorial waters. Both vessels were chemical product tankers anchored at the mouth of the canal leading to the Danube. Reuters reports many ships on Ukrainian routes anchor there for safety to avoid attacks in Ukrainian ports.
Patriot Missile Shortages
Reports from CNN and The Washington Post, citing NATO representatives and Ukrainian officials, indicate that Ukraine has exhausted its stockpile of Patriot interceptor missiles. One Ukrainian official stated that the missiles were used to fend off attacks and that only a few remain. The Washington Post reported that as of October 7, Ukraine had only 10 Patriot missiles left.
A high-ranking NATO official confirmed the program remains operational and interceptors continue to be delivered, but Ukrainian officials expressed skepticism regarding the stability of this aid. One official noted that deliveries have been irregular since May and that no one can guarantee they will arrive. In August, officials stated that Ukraine required between 300 and 360 missiles to survive the winter. Western supplies are dropping quickly, from 675 missiles in 2023 to 364 in 2025, and are expected to reach 264 by 2026.
Lack of Patriot Interceptors Leaves Energy Infrastructure Vulnerable
The shortage of high-tech weaponry has left critical infrastructure vulnerable. This lack of interceptors becomes more critical as Russia increases attacks on energy infrastructure before winter. During a large-scale ballistic missile attack on October 13-14, Russia launched 39 missiles targeting critical infrastructure in the Kiev province and all three of the capital’s heating plants. Sources told CNN that nearly all of these missiles penetrated air defenses due to the lack of Patriot interceptors.
While President Donald Trump approved a license for Ukraine to produce its own Patriot missiles in September, tensions remain. Following this announcement, Ukraine temporarily paused attacks on Russian oil refineries. However, after Moscow continued to target the Ukrainian power grid, Ukraine resumed attacks on two Russian refineries in Rjazan and Saratov early on the morning of October 15.