---
title: "Zelenskyy: Air defense shot down only 4 of 36 ballistic missiles due to interceptor shortage"
description: "Zelenskyy stated that air defense destroyed only 4 of 36 ballistic missiles used by Russia on the night of November 7 due to a shortage of Patriot interceptors. Preliminary conclusions indicate North Korean KN-23 missiles were used to strike energy infrastructure."
date: 2026-11-07T13:46:05.559Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/zelenskyy-air-defense-missiles-shortage
tags: [ukraine-war, ballistic-missiles, patriot, air-defense, zelensky, energy-infrastructure, kn-23]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Zelenskyy: Air defense shot down only 4 of 36 ballistic missiles due to interceptor shortage

![Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaking in profile against a dark background](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/07/zelenskyi-pvo-4-iz-36-ballisticheskikh-raket-defitsit-perekhatchikov/zelenskyi-pvo-4-iz-36-ballisticheskikh-raket-defitsit-perekhatchikov-1.webp)

## Key Points

- According to Zelenskyy, air defense destroyed 4 of 36 ballistic missiles due to a shortage of Patriot interceptors
- Preliminary conclusions indicate North Korean KN-23 missiles were used to strike an energy facility
- All 36 missiles were targeted at Kyiv and the region; 12 other regions were also attacked besides the capital
- Kyiv receives PAC-2 and PAC-3 under the Europe-funded PURL program, but is not a priority in their allocation
- A selector meeting instructed authorities to develop backup transport routes in Kyiv and continue energy recovery

On the night of November 7, Russia launched a massive combined strike against Ukraine using 36 ballistic missiles and 172 strike drones. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, air defense forces destroyed only four missiles that were approaching their targets on a ballistic trajectory. The head of state attributed such a low interception rate to a significant shortage of interceptor missiles for Patriot systems. According to him, he held a selector meeting that day to review the aftermath of the attack and recovery efforts.

### Interceptor shortage and supply dependency

Zelenskyy emphasized that a substantial shortage of interceptor missiles for Patriot systems persists, and the United States is primarily capable of overcoming it. Kyiv, he said, «is seeking ways at all levels to accelerate deliveries and convey the necessary signals to the American side.» Earlier at a briefing, the president specified that Ukraine receives PAC-2 and PAC-3 munitions under the PURL program funded by European nations, and that «a large portion of PAC-2 and PAC-3 is sent to the Middle East,» making Kyiv «not a priority» in their allocation. By his estimate, Ukraine «gathers 2–5–10» missiles from various countries, including Europe.

### North Korean KN-23 missiles

At the sites where ballistic missiles fell, according to Zelenskyy, examinations are ongoing. According to preliminary conclusions, Russia used North Korean-produced KN-23 missiles to strike one of the key damaged energy facilities. The president stated that this «proves once again the need for a substantial tightening of international sanctions» against everyone who, in his words, helps the aggressor.

### Selector meeting: Recovery and logistics

The meeting discussed the problems faced by Kyiv. The Ministry of Internal Affairs, headed by Ihor Vyhivskyi, was instructed, together with relevant structures and the Kyiv City Military Administration, to develop backup transport routes and provide additional transport; at the city level, such backup solutions essentially do not exist, according to Zelenskyy. Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi reported on the progress of repairing damaged energy facilities and mobilized resources, while the military reported on the use of electronic warfare equipment, following which directions for expanding their use were determined. A separate report was heard from Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.

### Scale of strikes and consequences

According to the president, the attack was combined: all 36 ballistic missiles were directed at Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast, and energy infrastructure was once again the primary target. In Kyiv Oblast, substations connecting the Rivne and Khmelnytskyi NPPs to the capital and central regions were hit; substations in Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Rivne, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts were also damaged—bringing the total number of regions under attack, aside from Kyiv, to 12. The capital faces a difficult situation regarding electricity, water, and heat supplies; in addition to energy facilities, residential buildings, the North Bridge, and a kindergarten were partially damaged. According to Zelenskyy's information, nine people were injured in the strikes, including one child.

### Diplomatic context and allied support

Zelenskyy also stated that Russia is intensifying attacks on infrastructure right now in order to, in his view, exert additional pressure on the position of Ukraine and its allies. Ukraine, he said, is preparing for meetings in the Group of Seven format and will be represented at them. Kyiv counts on new contributions from European states to the PURL program, for which preliminary commitments already exist, as well as on new packages of energy assistance and the supply of equipment for Ukrainian logistics.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Зеленский: ПВО обезвредила 4 из 36 ракет, которые атаковали по баллистической траектории](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/zelenskiy-ppo-zneshkodila-4-iz-36-raket-shcho-1794058780.html) - Primary source: 36 ballistic missiles, 4 destroyed, interceptor shortage, selector meeting, preliminary conclusion on KN-23, instructions to MIA and reports from Koretskyi/Sybiha.
- [Россия направила все 36 баллистических ракет на Киев и область – Зеленский](https://ru.slovoidilo.ua/2026/11/07/novost/bezopasnost/rossiya-napravila-vse-36-ballisticheskix-raket-kiev-i-oblast-zelenskij) - Complements the picture: 172 drones, all missiles targeting Kyiv/region, damaged substations connecting Rivne and Khmelnytskyi NPPs, 12 regions, 9 injured.
- [В Украине большой дефицит ракет к Patriot: Зеленский раскрыл причину кризиса](https://www.unian.net/war/ukraina-poluchaet-rakety-dlya-patriot-bukvalno-po-2-5-10-shtuk-zelenskiy-13530954.html) - Confirms the PAC-2/PAC-3 shortage, the Europe-funded PURL program, the dispatch of part of the munitions to the Middle East, and acquiring '2–5–10' missiles at a time.
- [Зеленский встретился с представителем США и выступил с инициативой проведения трехстороннего ...](https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/ru/news/20261021de62809/) - Подтверждено по источнику www3.nhk.or.jp

## FAQ

### How many ballistic missiles did Russia use and how many were shot down?

According to Zelenskyy, Russia used 36 ballistic missiles, and air defense forces destroyed four of them due to an interceptor shortage.

### What missiles were preliminarily used to strike the energy infrastructure?

According to preliminary expert conclusions, Russia used North Korean-produced KN-23 missiles to strike one of the key damaged energy facilities.

### Where does Ukraine get missiles for Patriot systems?

Kyiv receives PAC-2 and PAC-3 munitions under the PURL program funded by European nations, and also tries to source them from other countries, including Europe.