Zelensky again voices concern over severe shortage of Patriot interceptor missiles

BRUSSELS, October 16. /TASS/. Vladimir Zelensky has once again complained that, due to the conflict in the Middle East, Ukraine has to obtain interceptor missiles for its US-made Patriot air defense systems one by one from countries willing to provide them.

"There is currently a severe shortage. Most of the PAC-2 and PAC-3 [missiles] have been going to the Middle East for quite some time. This is no secret. We are not the number one priority when it comes to the allocation of PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles," he said at a briefing in Brussels.

According to Zelensky, Kiev is trying to obtain these missiles not only from the United States, but is also "working" with European partners and other countries. "We are working with Europe and other countries around the world, gathering two, five, or 10 missiles at a time, whatever we can agree on," he said.

Earlier, The Washington Post reported that the Ukrainian military had nearly depleted its stockpile of Patriot missiles, and that deliveries have been irregular since May. For its part, CNN reported that Kiev had been warning its partners for several months that it was running out of Patriot interceptor missiles, which are currently in short supply everywhere.