--- title: "Zelenskyy Confirms Major Patriot Missile Shortage: Most Interceptors Going to Middle East" description: "At a briefing in Brussels, Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a major shortage of Patriot missiles in Ukraine, noting that most PAC-2 and PAC-3 interceptors have long been transferred to the Middle East." date: 2026-10-16T12:07:31.772Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/zelenskyy-patriot-missile-shortage-middle-east tags: [ukraine, patriot-missiles, zelensky, nato, defense, middle-east] author: "Alexander Buran" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Zelenskyy Confirms Major Patriot Missile Shortage: Most Interceptors Going to Middle East ![Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks in front of the blue and yellow flag of Ukraine](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/16/zelensky-deficit-patriot-rakety-blizhniy-vostok/zelensky-deficit-patriot-rakety-blizhniy-vostok-1.webp) ## Key Points - Zelenskyy announced a large deficit of PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles, most of which have long been transferred to the Middle East. - Kyiv receives interceptors through the PURL program funded by European countries and is not priority number one. - According to CNN, due to the shortage of interceptors during the latest strike, most ballistic missiles were not shot down. - Regarding the transfer of a license to produce Patriot missiles, Zelenskyy's and Trump's statements diverge. During a briefing in Brussels, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a critical shortage of interceptor missiles for Patriot air defense systems. According to him, the deficit is widespread, as a significant portion of PAC-2 and PAC-3 kits have long been directed to the Middle East. 'Right now, there is a large deficit. Most PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles have been transferred to the Middle East for a long time. This is no secret,' the head of state noted while speaking to journalists. ### Ukraine Is Not Priority Number One Zelenskyy explicitly stated that Kyiv is not among the top priority recipients of these missiles. 'We are not priority number one regarding the allocation of PAC-2 and PAC-3. Nevertheless, we are grateful for the number of missiles we can receive through PURL,' he explained. The president clarified that supplies are coming through the PURL (Presidential Urgent Replenishment Program) funded by European countries: 'Europe pays for this, meaning these are not free missiles and not gifts.' According to him, Kyiv is 'gathering 3, 5, 10 missiles' — as many as can be agreed upon and delivered. ### Energy Protection and Data on Interceptor Shortages Zelenskyy emphasized that under current conditions, the priority is protecting critical infrastructure, primarily energy facilities. In the context of statements about the shortage of interceptors, a CNN source previously reported that Ukraine had run out of Patriot interceptor missiles, which is why most ballistic missiles were not shot down during the latest massive strike. These figures coincide with the president's assessment that the available kits are not enough for complete coverage. ### Production and License: Conflicting Statements from Parties Against the backdrop of the shortage, the issue of domestic production is also being discussed. According to former Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera, Japan plans to consider transferring missiles for Patriot to Ukraine despite legal restrictions. Separately, Zelenskyy stated that Donald Trump had 'made a final decision' to hand over licenses for Patriot missile production to Kyiv. However, the next day in a CNN interview, Trump did not confirm this agreement, limiting himself to saying that the interceptor issue was discussed and shifting the conversation to a call for ending the conflict. Thus, the statements of Kyiv and Washington on the status of the licensing agreement do not currently match. ## Accounts differ ### Transfer of Patriot missile production license to Ukraine - **Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy:** Trump has 'made a final decision' and will transfer Patriot missile production licenses to Ukraine. ([dw.com](https://www.dw.com/ru/zelenskij-tramp-prinal-okoncatelnoe-resenie-i-peredast-kievu-licenzii-na-rakety-patriot/a-79439741)) - **US President Donald Trump:** Did not confirm consent to transfer the license, noting only that the issue was discussed, and shifted the conversation to calling for an end to the conflict. ([korrespondent.net](https://korrespondent.net/ukraine/4915221-tramp-ne-podtverdyl-sohlasye-na-proyzvodstvo-raket-Patriot-ukraynoi)) *Where they agree:* The issue of Patriot interceptor missiles was discussed during the meeting between the US and Ukrainian presidents in New York. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Зеленский подтвердил большой дефицит Patriot: большинство ракет передают на Ближний Восток](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/zelenskiy-pidtverdiv-velikiy-defitsit-patriot-1792151682.html) - Primary source: direct quotes from the president at the Brussels briefing about the PAC-2/PAC-3 deficit, the PURL program, and European funding. - [Зеленский: Трамп подтвердил, что Киев получит лицензию на производство ракет для Patriot](https://news.am/ru/news/1063961) - Report on Zelenskyy's statement following the New York meeting regarding the production license. - [Трамп не подтвердил согласие на производство ракет Patriot Украиной](https://korrespondent.net/ukraine/4915221-tramp-ne-podtverdyl-sohlasye-na-proyzvodstvo-raket-Patriot-ukraynoi) - Trump in a CNN interview did not confirm the license transfer, shifting the conversation to ending the conflict. - [Зеленский: Трамп одобрил передачу лицензий на ракеты Patriot](https://www.dw.com/ru/zelenskij-tramp-prinal-okoncatelnoe-resenie-i-peredast-kievu-licenzii-na-rakety-patriot/a-79439741) - Zelenskyy stated on September 25, 2026, about Trump's 'final decision' to hand over production licenses. ## FAQ ### What did Zelenskyy say about the Patriot missile shortage? He stated that Ukraine has a large deficit of PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles, most of which have been transferred to the Middle East for a long time. ### Where does Ukraine get these missiles from and who pays? According to Zelenskyy, through the PURL program funded by European countries; he emphasized that these are not free missiles or gifts. ### Is Ukraine priority number one in receiving PAC-2 and PAC-3? No, Zelenskyy explicitly stated that Kyiv is not priority number one regarding the allocation of these missiles. ### What is known about Patriot missile production in Ukraine? Zelenskyy claimed that Trump decided to transfer production licenses, but Trump did not confirm this agreement in a CNN interview.