--- title: "Pentagon Has Not Approved Transfer of Patriot Interceptors to Ukraine: What Is Known" description: "According to The Washington Post, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth has not approved the transfer of Patriot interceptor missiles from partner countries to Ukraine, although there has been no formal refusal. Kyiv is experiencing an acute shortage of interceptors." date: 2026-10-20T02:04:19.762Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/pentagon-has-not-approved-patriot-transfer-ukraine tags: [ukraine, patriot-missiles, pete-hegseth, donald-trump, us-aid, air-defense] author: "Alexander Buran" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Pentagon Has Not Approved Transfer of Patriot Interceptors to Ukraine: What Is Known ![American official in business suit during a meeting in Washington](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/20/hegset-zaderzhivaet-perechatchiki-patriot-ukraine/hegset-zaderzhivaet-perechatchiki-patriot-ukraine-1.webp) ## Key Points - The Washington Post, citing an American official and three sources, reports that the Trump administration has not approved the transfer of Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine. - Some interceptors come from partner countries, and their transfer requires approval from Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth due to U.S. weapons supply conditions. - There has been no formal refusal from Hegseth, but he has not completed the necessary approval procedures while continuing to approve other types of aid. - The delay occurs against the backdrop of an acute shortage of interceptors: according to CNN, stockpiles are practically exhausted, and Zelenskyy urged senators on October 19 to pressure the Trump administration. The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has not approved the transfer of Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine, which are needed for defense against Russian missile attacks. This is reported by The Washington Post, citing an American official and three other informed sources. According to them, at least part of the Patriot missiles comes to Ukraine from partner countries, for which transfer the approval of Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth is required. There has been no formal refusal from the minister, but he has not taken the necessary steps to approve the deliveries either. ### Why the Pentagon Makes the Decision The reason for this procedure lies in the terms of supply: we are talking about U.S.-manufactured weapons supplied abroad under an agreement stipulating that their further transfer to third countries is possible only with the permission of the United States. That is why when a partner country wants to transfer interceptors to Ukraine, Washington retains veto power, and the final word rests with the Secretary of Defense. The Washington Post's sources emphasized that Hegseth continues to approve certain types of U.S. aid to Ukraine, meaning the delay applies specifically to this category of supplies. ### No Formal Refusal, but No Approval Either A key detail pointed out by sources is the "hänging" status of the decision: the Pentagon chief has neither publicly nor officially rejected the transfer of interceptor missiles, but nor has he completed the procedures necessary to approve it. Such a scenario effectively means uncertainty for Kyiv, which relies on these munitions for air defense. The publication notes that delays are occurring against the backdrop of an acute shortage of interceptors, which, according to Ukrainian sources, has been felt since summer. ### Acute Shortage of Interceptors The context of the delay is reinforced by data on stockpile conditions. Earlier, CNN reported that Ukraine essentially has no Patriot interceptor missiles left to defend against Russian air attacks, and as a result, during one of the recent strikes, Kyiv was unable to intercept most ballistic missiles. A Ukrainian official, according to The Washington Post, stated that "only a couple" of such missiles remain in the reserves. The critical shortage of munitions for Patriot is reported to weaken population defense against nearly daily Russian ballistic strikes. ### Kyiv's Reaction and Pressure on Congress Against the backdrop of these reports, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held an online conversation with a group of bipartisan senators on October 19, urging them to pressure the Trump administration to resume intelligence sharing and weapons supplies. He reported on restrictions concerning Starlink and Starshield, the lack of ballistic intelligence sharing (information was absent, he said, at least three times), and the fact that Hegseth refuses to grant consent for the supply of Patriot and AIM-9x missiles for NASAMS air defense systems. In parallel, Zelenskyy stated that the U.S. company Raytheon is ready to start producing interceptors for Patriot for Ukraine, asking Washington to accelerate this process, including within the framework of the "winter missile package." Some Ukrainian publications also reported that the U.S. is ready to approve the transfer of a limited number of older missiles for Patriot, taking into account political, military, and economic factors. ## Accounts differ ### Remaining Patriot Interceptor Missiles in Ukraine's Stockpiles - **CNN:** Ukraine has no Patriot interceptor missiles left to defend against Russian air attacks. ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/trampa-shvalili-peredachu-raket-perehoplyuvachiv-1792459178.html)) - **Ukrainian official (citing The Washington Post):** "Only a couple" of Patriot interceptor missiles remain in Ukrainian stockpiles. ([zn.ua](https://zn.ua/usa/administratsija-trampa-zaderzhivaet-odobrenie-peredachi-raket-patriot-ukraine-wp.html)) *Where they agree:* Patriot interceptor stockpiles are critically low, and Ukraine is experiencing an acute shortage of air defense ammunition. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [У Трампа не одобрили передачу ракет-перехватчиков Patriot Украине, - WP](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/trampa-shvalili-peredachu-raket-perehoplyuvachiv-1792459178.html) - Primary source basis: cites The Washington Post, an American official, and three sources; Hegseth has not approved but not rejected the transfer; CNN context and Zelenskyy's conversation with senators on October 19. - [Администрация Трампа задерживает одобрение передачи ракет Patriot Украине — WP](https://zn.ua/usa/administratsija-trampa-zaderzhivaet-odobrenie-peredachi-raket-patriot-ukraine-wp.html) - Confirms the delay, lack of formal refusal, continuation of partial aid approval; indicates that a Ukrainian official told WP about "only a couple" of remaining interceptors and a deficit since summer. - [Компания Raytheon готова производить перехватчики для системы Patriot для Украины, – Зеленский](https://www.unian.net/weapons/perehvatchiki-dlya-sistemy-patriot-zelenskiy-zayavil-chto-raytheon-gotova-proizvodit-oruzhie-dlya-ukrainy-13507242.html) - Zelenskyy's statement about Raytheon's readiness to produce interceptors and the request to accelerate the process; context of the "winter missile package". - [США готовы одобрить передачу Украине 10 ракет для Patriot, но есть нюанс](https://www.unian.net/weapons/ssha-gotovy-odobrit-peredachu-ukraine-10-raket-dlya-patriot-13502778.html) - Reports on U.S. readiness to approve the transfer of a limited number (10) of older missiles for Patriot, considering political, military, and economic factors. ## FAQ ### Why does the transfer of Patriot missiles to Ukraine depend on the Pentagon? Because some interceptors come from partner countries, and American weapons are supplied abroad under an agreement stating that their transfer to third countries requires U.S. approval. The final decision in such cases is made by the Pentagon chief. ### Did Pete Hegseth refuse to transfer interceptor missiles to Ukraine? According to The Washington Post, there was no formal refusal: Hegseth did not reject the transfer, but nor did he take the necessary steps to approve it. At the same time, he continues to approve separate types of U.S. aid to Ukraine. ### What is known about Ukraine's Patriot interceptor stockpiles? Earlier CNN reported that virtually no interceptors are left, and during one of the recent attacks, most ballistic missiles could not be intercepted. A Ukrainian official, according to WP, spoke of "only a couple" of missiles left. Both assessments indicate a critical deficit.