‘Patriot Gap’ Leaves Ukraine Vulnerable to Russian Iskander Missile Strikes
Ukraine’s heavy reliance on the U.S.-made Patriot missile defense system has exposed a critical weakness in its ability to intercept Russia’s Iskander-M ballistic missiles, as shortages in key air defense assets continue to hinder battlefield performance.
Speaking on April 9, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine is ready to purchase air defense systems that were previously donated by the U.S., including a proposal to spend $15 billion to acquire 10 additional Patriot systems. “We will find the money and pay for everything,” he said.
President Donald Trump quickly dismissed the idea. “He’s always looking to buy missiles,” Trump said. “You can’t start a war with someone 20 times your size and then expect everyone else to supply your weapons.”
Two days later, Zelensky renewed his plea to Western allies, urging them to bolster Ukraine’s air defense network with at least 10 more Patriot systems. His repeated calls reflect what military analysts are calling a growing “Patriot gap” — a critical vulnerability that Russia is actively exploiting.
The Patriot is one of the few systems in Ukraine’s arsenal capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, alongside the European-made SAMP/T and the Soviet-era S-300V. However, the S-300V is rarely deployed due to limited missile reserves, and SAMP/T systems face technical issues and chronic ammunition shortages.
“That makes Patriot the backbone of Ukraine’s missile defense,” wrote military analyst Stefan Korshak in the Kyiv Post. “It’s the only system truly capable of countering Russian ballistic missile attacks.”
Ukraine has received six Patriot batteries from the U.S. and European allies, outfitted with advanced PAC-3 MSE interceptors — capable of engaging aircraft at 120 km and ballistic missiles at 60 km. But the number of systems is far from enough to protect the entire country. Russian forces have also targeted and damaged several Patriot launchers, radars, and command centers, further straining Ukraine’s air defense coverage.
“Patriot units are concentrated in key industrial cities and major airfields,” Korshak explained. “That leaves large parts of Ukraine exposed — areas where Russian Iskander-M missiles can strike with impunity.”
Even where Patriot systems are deployed, the Iskander remains a formidable threat. With a flight time of just 1–4 minutes from Russian territory to Ukrainian targets, air defenses often have little time to respond.
According to Col. Yuriy Ignat, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Air Force Command, Patriot systems have successfully intercepted Russian Iskander-M and Kinzhal hypersonic missiles in the past. But he warned that interception is becoming more difficult as Russia upgrades its missile arsenal and adapts its tactics.
On April 6, Ukraine’s air defense failed to intercept 16 suicide drones, 10 cruise and ballistic missiles — including five Iskander-Ms — causing damage in Kyiv and several other regions.
In a February attack on the capital, air raid sirens didn’t even activate until the missiles had already struck. Reuters reported that Russia had used radar-evading missiles, preventing early warning systems from sounding in time.
At the time, Ukraine’s military claimed to intercept six of the seven Iskander-M missiles. Witnesses, however, described heavy explosions shaking the city. Zelensky has said Ukraine needs at least 27 Patriot or equivalent systems to fully secure its airspace. Kyiv has repeatedly requested that Washington sell more units or authorize local production, but U.S. officials have declined.
“Ukraine has the technical base and industrial know-how to assemble Patriot systems and produce some components,” Korshak noted. “But getting a domestic production line running would still take years.”
Defense Express, a Ukrainian military publication, says the real bottleneck isn’t factory capacity — it’s the supply of key components from American subcontractors.
“Building Patriot missiles requires multi-billion-dollar contracts, long-term cooperation, and existing manufacturing capabilities,” the site reported. “For Ukraine, this is a strategic process — one that’s costly and can’t be rushed.”
(Sources: AFP, AP, Kyiv Post)
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