Serhii Beskrestnov, Advisor to the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, has revealed that Kyiv must launch multiple expensive Patriot missiles to intercept a single Russian Iskander-M ballistic missile. Speaking on February 25, Mr. Beskrestnov emphasized that only the Patriot system is capable of effectively countering Russian ballistic missiles.
The Patriot system is rated for a high interception rate thanks to its specific algorithms; however, to take down a single target, the system needs to use multiple rounds. According to Mr. Beskrestnov, the current war of attrition revolves around Russia's production capacity and the speed at which Western countries can deliver Patriot ammunition to Ukraine.
Russia Accelerates Missile Production
Mr. Beskrestnov stated that the Russian ballistic missiles used in recent strikes were all newly manufactured late last year and early this year. It is estimated that about 90% of Iskander-M components are produced domestically, with an output of approximately 60 missiles per month. Russia has also converted S-300 and S-400 missiles to attack ground targets.
In light of this situation, the Ukrainian advisor warned that the West may not be able to maintain the supply of Patriot ammunition in the long term due to resource limitations. He emphasized the necessity for Ukraine to develop its domestic defense capabilities and find ways to undermine the financial resources fueling Russia's missile production.
Pressure on Ukraine's Air Defense Grid
Ukraine has received significant aid from the West with various air defense systems, of which Patriot and SAMP/T are considered the most high-performing. Patriot systems in Ukraine currently use U.S.-made PAC-3 MSE missiles, each costing an average of about $4 million with a ballistic missile interception range of approximately 60 km.
However, Ukraine's air defense grid is under immense pressure as the rate of interceptor missile consumption exceeds the rate of replenishment. Additionally, some Patriot systems have become targets in Russian strikes. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on February 26 that Ukraine had intercepted most strikes thanks to partners accelerating the delivery of missiles committed at the Ramstein conference.
Previously, Mr. Zelensky criticized some European countries for delays in providing air defense ammunition. According to the Financial Times, two anonymous officials suggested that this assessment did not fully reflect the actual situation. This development shows that Ukraine's air defense system is entering a high-attrition phase, with replenishment heavily dependent on the political decisions and industrial capacity of donor countries.
