Ukraine Faces Air Defense Shortages Amid Slowed US Arms Deliveries
Ukraine is facing a critical challenge in the field of air defense, as the scale of Russian attacks has increased while arms supplies from the US have slowed down, posing serious risks to the protection of Ukraine's airspace and energy infrastructure.
The Gaze reports on it, referring to The Financial Times.
As Ukraine confronts a critical challenge in air defense, Western and Ukrainian officials warn that the pace of deliveries has slowed significantly following a Pentagon review of military aid programs.
“It's a question of time for when munitions run out,” said a person familiar with the issue.
The slowdown in US arms deliveries to Ukraine is linked to a memorandum by Pentagon chief policy official Elbridge Colby, who in June called for US resources to be redirected to contain China. He warned that Kyiv's requests could further deplete US arsenals.
Meanwhile, Washington denies that it is depriving Ukraine of critical air defense capabilities.
“Reporting that we are ‘depriving Kyiv of vital air defence munitions’ is demonstrably false, and the Department of War is working very deliberately to support Ukraine’s requirements, including with respect to air defences,” a White House official said.
Notably, President Donald Trump has instructed the US to sell weapons to NATO allies that could replace those sent by European countries to Ukraine. In this way, he wants European allies to become more actively involved in providing assistance, in particular by refusing Russian oil and exerting economic pressure on countries that finance the war.
After verifying the readiness of ten key systems, the Pentagon temporarily suspended and then slowed down the supply of important ammunition. This includes Pac-3 missiles for Patriot systems, Stinger complexes, high-precision artillery shells, and Hellfire and Aim missiles for NASAMS systems and F-16 fighter jets.
The situation is complicated by the sharp increase in the scale of Russian attacks. Just recently, Moscow carried out its most powerful air strike since the beginning of the war: more than 800 Shahed drones and decoys were launched, as well as 13 cruise and ballistic missiles.
For the first time, the Cabinet of Ministers building was also hit, which became a symbol of escalation and a demonstration of the Kremlin's readiness to strike decision-making centers.
The Ukrainian military is spending enormous resources to intercept enemy attacks. According to the Air Force, the number of missile launches from Russia has decreased slightly, but the use of drones has increased dramatically.
This summer, more than 5,200 launches per month were recorded. Each wave of attacks forces Ukrainians to use precious interceptor missiles, which cannot be replaced fast enough by American supplies.
Read more on The Gaze: The War in Ukraine and the Global Arms Market: Who Has Profited the Most?