---
title: "Zelenskyy explains why Ukraine needs Taurus missiles: to destroy Russian launchers"
description: "Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine needs Taurus missiles to destroy Russian launchers because the US did not provide anti-ballistic missiles for air defense. Kyiv intends to test the munitions, which he claims is beneficial for both sides."
date: 2026-11-05T18:55:18.573Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/zelenskyy-taurus-missiles-launchers
tags: [ukraine, taurus-missiles, zelensky, air-defense, germany, sweden, iris-t, russia]
author: "Andrey Kosynko"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Zelenskyy explains why Ukraine needs Taurus missiles: to destroy Russian launchers

![Volodymyr Zelenskyy sits in a chair in front of a laptop, looking serious and focused on work.](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/05/zelensky-taurus-rakety-putskovye-ustanovki/zelensky-taurus-rakety-putskovye-ustanovki-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Zelenskyy stated that Taurus are needed to destroy Russian launchers, not for strikes on civilian objects
- Ukraine intends to not only order but also combat-test Taurus missiles
- Zelenskyy cited IRIS-T as an example: after combat use in Ukraine, its price rose from 600k to 1–1.5 million euros
- Merz previously stated he sees no point in supplying Taurus, citing the effectiveness of Ukrainian weapons

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in an interview reported by RBC-Ukraine, argued in detail for the necessity of acquiring Taurus cruise missiles for the country's armed forces. According to him, Kyiv does not intend to use these munitions against civilian objects, infrastructure, or energy facilities of the Russian Federation. "Why do we want to order 'Taurus'? Because when the Americans couldn't provide us with anti-ballistic missiles for air defense, we have only one way out: to destroy Russian launchers. They built entire sites and are killing us, while we cannot defend ourselves. These are not civilian objects, not infrastructure, not energy," stated the head of state.

### The "only way out" argument and rejection of strikes on civilian targets

Zelenskyy emphasized that the decision to order Taurus is dictated by Kyiv's refusal to shift to strikes on rear civilian facilities. According to his logic, since the United States did not provide Ukraine with anti-ballistic missiles for air defense systems, the only way to neutralize the threat is to destroy the launch sites themselves from which the shelling is conducted. The president directly stated that there is no talk of strikes on energy or other civilian infrastructure, which, he claims, fundamentally distinguishes the Ukrainian position from the rhetoric that skeptics are using.

### Testing as a mutually beneficial deal

Zelenskyy placed particular emphasis on the fact that Ukraine intends not only to acquire Taurus missiles but also to conduct combat testing on them. According to him, this is mutually beneficial: Kyiv gets the opportunity to test the effectiveness of the munition in real combat conditions, and the supplier gets data to refine and improve the reliability of the system. The president cited the IRIS-T air defense system as an example, which, in his estimation, Ukraine has turned into "the number one brand in the world after the 'Patriots'." "Now this system costs from 600 thousand to somewhere around a million to one and a half million. This war did that. We also fixed all the problematic issues, because only in a real war can you truly get rid of the weak spots of one or another protection," explained Zelenskyy.

### Economic effect for the supplier: waiting lists for 10–20 years

Zelenskyy also pointed out the economic consequences of combat testing for the German defense sector. According to his data, waiting lists for IRIS-T orders in Germany have stretched to 10–20 years, which, he said, means job creation and an increase in the value of the missile by "dozens of times." Thus, the president attempted to answer the question of skeptics about what exactly Ukraine does for the countries providing it with military support: combat use and refinement of air defense systems, he argues, increase their market value and competitiveness in the global arms market.

### Context: Sweden has already received Taurus, while Merz doubts the feasibility of shipments

It should be recalled that the Swedish armed forces have already received a batch of Taurus cruise missiles from the German army's stocks; the exact number of transferred munitions is not disclosed. Against this background, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz previously stated that he does not see any point in supplying Taurus missiles to Ukraine because, according to him, Ukrainian weapons are more effective. Merz's position and Zelenskyy's arguments form two opposite vectors in the discussion about which weapon systems Kyiv needs to solve the task of destroying enemy launchers.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Украине нужны Taurus, чтобы уничтожать российские пусковые установки, - Зеленский](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/ukrayini-potribni-taurus-shchob-znishchuvati-1793903985.html) - Direct quotes from Zelenskyy, data on IRIS-T, the mention of Taurus shipments to Sweden, and Merz's statements are all from one primary source.

## FAQ

### Why does Ukraine need Taurus missiles, according to Zelenskyy?

Zelenskyy stated that Taurus are necessary to destroy Russian launchers because the US did not provide Ukraine with anti-ballistic missiles for air defense. He emphasized that this is not about striking civilian objects or energy infrastructure.

### What did Zelenskyy say about testing Taurus?

The President stated that Ukraine wants not only to order the missiles but also to conduct combat testing on them, as it is beneficial for both sides: Kyiv receives data on effectiveness, and the supplier gets the opportunity to improve the system.

### What is Merz's position on Taurus supplies?

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz previously stated that he does not see the point in supplying Taurus missiles to Ukraine, arguing that Ukrainian weapons are more effective.

### Has Sweden received Taurus missiles?

Yes, the Swedish armed forces have received a batch of Taurus cruise missiles from the German army's stocks. The exact quantity of transferred missiles is not disclosed.