Zelensky Says Ukraine Is Nearly Out of Patriot Missiles — And Blames Hegseth for Holding Up Replacements

WASHINGTON — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned U.S. senators on Monday that Ukraine has almost completely exhausted its stockpile of American-made Patriot interceptor missiles, and accused Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of personally stalling the transfer of replacement missiles that NATO allies have already paid for.

"Right now, a new missiles package is waiting for Mr. Hegseth's signature," Zelensky said during a virtual meeting with a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers. "And our other partners, including those in Europe, are also waiting for American approval to transfer Patriot interceptors from their shelters, European shelters, to us. So the missiles are ready, and they could already be in Ukraine."

The comments were first reported by the Washington Examiner and follow a Washington Post investigation into why the Trump administration has not signed off on the transfers. Under U.S. export rules, European countries holding American-made Patriot interceptors need Washington's clearance before passing them on to Kyiv.

A stockpile running on empty

The shortage is acute. Ukrainian officials told the Post that as of early October, the country was down to roughly 10 interceptor missiles — and just a few remain after weeks of intensified Russian missile and drone attacks. A single Patriot interceptor costs upwards of $4 million, and Kyiv says it needs 100 to 120 per month this winter to keep its cities shielded.

Zelensky told senators the strain extends beyond air defenses. Ukraine has gone three times this past week without early-warning intelligence about incoming Russian missile attacks, and its access to the Starshield satellite network — a tool used to detect and thwart strikes — remains restricted.