Zelenskyy Claims U.S. Delays Patriot Missiles and Satellite Support Amid Intensified Russian Drone Attacks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers that Ukraine’s stock of U.S.–supplied Patriot interceptors had been exhausted and that a shipment of missiles purchased through the NATO-coordinated Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) was awaiting approval from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. He said the missiles were ready but had not been authorized for transfer, raising concerns about Kyiv’s ability to counter Russian ballistic missiles.

Stars and Stripes

During the Monday hearing, Zelenskyy linked the missile delay to a broader pattern of “politically motivated” slowdowns, including recent restrictions on Starlink and Starshield satellite communications and a three-day interruption of U.S. intelligence sharing. — were overwhelming Ukraine’s defenses, especially the faster jet-powered Shahed variants.

Stars and Stripes

The statement denied any policy shift that would affect the timing of missile deliveries or satellite-communication restrictions.

Stars and Stripes

Zelenskyy said the Starlink/Starshield restrictions limited data speeds above 100 mph, hampering logistics and the ability to intercept high-speed drones. He noted that intelligence sharing had resumed after the brief interruption but emphasized that continued disruptions could jeopardize civilian protection.

Stars and Stripes

• “So the missiles are ready and they could already be in Ukraine,” — Volodymyr Zelenskyy, ukrainian president

Stars and Stripes

• “Russia attacks us with 200 drones minimum every day. Sometimes it’s up to 1,000 drones in a single day,” — Volodymyr Zelenskyy, ukrainian president

Stars and Stripes

• “We want to understand what is happening, why it’s happening and where all of this is heading,” — Volodymyr Zelenskyy, ukrainian president

Stars and Stripes