In Kyiv, a sharp shift has been noted in the rhythm of decision-making regarding air defense issues. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, summarizing a meeting with representatives from the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), and the President's Office, announced a strict deadline: officials have exactly one week to turn the political agreement on the supply of Patriot systems into reality.
The situation regarding the purchase of American Patriot surface-to-air missile systems has hit a dead end at the bureaucratic stage. As the head of state noted, an agreement to acquire "Patriots" has already been reached at the "highest political level." However, the implementation of this decision is stuck at the stages of financial, legal, and technical coordination.
Ultimatum to officials
Zelenskyy emphasized that the wait has dragged on and called for an immediate acceleration of the process. He stated directly that the task of launching the contract as soon as possible has become a matter of personal responsibility for the involved officials. In the event that there is no clarity on the implementation of the agreement by next Friday, the President promised "serious personnel consequences".
The key instrument for resolving the problem should be funds from the European support package totaling 90 billion euros. The President demanded that these resources, as well as other financial opportunities, work as efficiently as possible to fulfill tasks ensuring the protection of citizens' lives.
Critical shortage of ammunition
The stern tone of the head of state is dictated by the critical situation on the front lines. Ukraine is facing a serious shortage of missiles for Patriot, NASAMS, and IRIS-T air defense systems. According to Defense Minister Yuriy Ihnat, launchers in many units are practically empty. Commanders are forced to literally beg the leadership for even small batches of ammunition — 5-10 missiles — to ensure minimum defense capabilities.
The situation is exacerbated by a change in the enemy's tactics. The Russian Federation has increased the use of "Zircon" hypersonic missiles during attacks. Last night, Russia launched eight such projectiles at once, and the Ukrainian air defense system failed to intercept them. This occurred because not all existing systems are capable of effectively countering these aerial targets, making the issue of rapidly deploying additional capabilities a matter of survival.