Ukraine is aware of the scale of the threat posed by Russian ballistic missiles and is deliberately working with international partners to prevent Russia from gaining a technological and operational advantage. This was stated by Vadym Skybitskyi, a representative of the Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, at the YES Annual Meeting 2026 conference, organized by the Viktor Pinchuk Foundation, according to RBC-Ukraine. According to him, Kyiv is building a systematic response to the missile challenge, relying on its allies and its own efforts to develop air defense.
Scale of production in Russia
Skybitskyi cited specific figures: according to the plans of the Russian Federation, by September 2026 the Russian defense industry is to produce no fewer than 100 ballistic missiles. This estimate includes, in particular, the "Iskander" systems, as well as S-400 missiles, which, according to HUR data, are being used as ballistic missiles. These indicators, according to the intelligence representative, demonstrate a steady growth in the production capacity of Russia's military-industrial complex in the missile segment.
Ukraine's four-step response
According to Skybitskyi, Ukraine's response to this challenge consists of four steps. Within the framework of the outlined strategy, a key element is close cooperation with partners on air defense systems and the provision of interceptor missiles for Patriot air defense systems, which, as HUR emphasizes, remain the only systems capable of intercepting ballistic missiles. It is in this area that Ukraine is concentrating its requests to its allies.
Threat to western regions
As stated by HUR, the Russian defense industry is currently working on ballistic missiles that will be able to reach the western regions of Ukraine; the first launches of such systems are possible by the end of 2026. Against this backdrop, Kyiv and other settlements within the range of ballistic missiles are subjected to Russian terror: in summer and autumn the enemy is actively attacking with ballistic missiles, destroying warehouses, enterprises and other critical infrastructure.
Request for Patriot and the EU's position
Against this backdrop, Ukraine is asking its partners to help with the supply of missiles for Patriot systems. Recently, the European Union agreed to purchase a batch of Patriot interceptor missiles from the 90 billion euro loan. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously noted that Ukraine needs at least 100–120 Patriot missiles per month to effectively intercept Russian ballistic missiles.
Contradictory data
Open statements and fact-checking materials record a discrepancy in figures and wording. In Skybitskyi's speech, as reported by RBC-Ukraine, the figure of "no fewer than 100 ballistic missiles" is mentioned according to Russia's plans for September 2026. Meanwhile, in another material citing HUR data (UNIAN), an estimate is given that Russia may be producing up to 200 cruise and ballistic missiles per month. The difference is explained by the different scope: in the first case only ballistic missiles and planned indicators are taken into account, while in the second — the total of cruise and ballistic missiles at potential (non-planned) rates. Both versions reflect the same source — HUR — but with different calculation parameters, which requires caution when citing.
