[Russia Has Stockpiled 700 Ballistic Missiles]
The current pressure on Ukraine’s air defense stems from two key factors: first, Russia’s robust ballistic missile production capacity, which enables a continuous stream of attacks; second, the evolving situation in the Middle East, which has constrained Ukraine’s ability to receive additional Patriot surface-to-air missiles as it did previously. According to President Zelenskyy, the United States now supplies only 12 Patriot interceptors per month—less than a quarter of the monthly volume provided during the Biden administration. A declining supply of Patriot missiles means Ukraine’s air defense stockpiles are at risk of depletion.
What concerns Ukraine beyond Russia’s sustained missile output is the scale of its existing arsenal. According to intelligence reported by Ukrainian media outlet RBC, citing Ukrainian intelligence sources, Russia has amassed up to 700 ballistic missiles, thousands of cruise missiles, and more than 6,000 attack drones, all prepared for use in winter operations.
While cruise missiles and drones present manageable challenges, the most pressing threat remains ballistic missiles—particularly the Iskander-M. With a range of up to 500 kilometers and speeds exceeding 2 kilometers per second, the Iskander-M is exceptionally difficult to intercept. Ukraine’s available countermeasures appear limited to U.S.-supplied Patriot systems. Intelligence assessments indicate that Russia currently possesses 115 Iskander-M units and produces an additional 65 per month. Given the shortage of Patriot missiles, Ukraine faces significant air defense challenges in upcoming winter operations.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1880018787934220/
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