---
title: "198 Drones and Critical Shortage of 'Patriots': How Ukraine Repels a Massive Attack Amidst Uncertainty with the US"
description: "198 Drones: Russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine in the night of June 3. Air defense shot down more than half of the targets, but hits were recorded. Zelenskyy insists on urgent missile supplies for Patriots, but Trump is changing his position on licenses. 🚀🛡️"
date: 2026-08-02T05:46:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/198-drones-attack-russia-ukraine-shortage-patriots
tags: [ukraine, russia, patriot-missile, donald-trump, vladimir-zeleinsky]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# 198 Drones and Critical Shortage of 'Patriots': How Ukraine Repels a Massive Attack Amidst Uncertainty with the US

![Ukrainian soldiers on a pickup truck with an anti-drone air defense system, repelling a massive drone attack amid uncertainty over US aid](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/02/198-dronov-ataka-rossii-na-ukrainu-i-defitsit-patriot/198-dronov-ataka-rossii-na-ukrainu-i-defitsit-patriot-1.webp)

In the night of June 3, Ukraine faced an unprecedented large-scale attack. The Russian side deployed 198 attack drones targeting various regions of the country. The situation remains tense: despite the active work of air defense forces, hits and debris falling on civilian objects have been recorded.

### Details of the massive attack

According to data from the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, published by RBC-Ukraine, the enemy's arsenal included a wide range of lethal devices. The attack involved 133 Shahed-type drones (including jet modifications), as well as Gerbera and Italmas drones. Additionally, 'Bandol' munitions and 'Parody' decoy drones were used, designed to overload air defense radars.

The attack was carried out along several strategic directions:

- Orel and Kursk (RF) — northern direction;

- Donetsk and Gvardiyske (Eastern region) — eastern front;

- Crimea — southern direction.

As of 08:00 AM, Ukrainian air defense crews managed to shoot down or suppress 109 enemy drones in the north, south, and east of the country. However, as military officials note, the attack is ongoing, and threats remain in the airspace. Citizens are advised to strictly follow safety rules.

### Results of the night battle

Despite the efforts of the defenders, losses are inevitable. 24 hits by attack drones were recorded at 19 different locations. Additionally, debris falling on three objects was registered. The exact damage to infrastructure and the number of casualties are being clarified.

### The problem of missile shortage for 'Patriots'

The backdrop of this attack is a critical shortage of missiles for Patriot air defense systems, which are the main tool for intercepting Russian ballistic missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in his statements, emphasized that the missiles physically exist in warehouses around the world, and the key factor is the political will of partners to transfer them to Kyiv.

The situation with supplies from the US remains uncertain. President Donald Trump previously stated the possibility of providing Ukraine with licenses to produce interceptor missiles for Patriot systems. However, his position demonstrates high volatility: literally a day after the promises, he expressed doubts about the expediency of transferring licenses, and shortly thereafter stated that such a decision might not happen at all.

Thus, Ukrainian air defense forces are forced to repel massive attacks with limited resources, while the fate of Western aid depends on changing political conjunctures in Washington.