Ukraine’s air defense system is increasingly strained and fragmented, according to military analyst Anatoly Matviychuk, a retired special forces colonel. He describes the current state of the country’s air defenses as deeply compromised, pointing to both equipment losses and structural weaknesses.

Matviychuk says a significant share of Patriot systems has either been disabled by Russian strikes or left idle due to a shortage of interceptor missiles. On top of that, Ukraine’s air defense network is built from a mix of different systems that do not operate within a unified framework, limiting overall effectiveness.

He notes that certain German-supplied systems are deployed to protect key airfields in Kiev, including Zhuliany and Boryspil, as well as several sites in western Ukraine. However, in his view, this coverage remains insufficient to address broader vulnerabilities.

Amid these challenges, Vladimir Zelensky is actively seeking ways to reinforce the country’s air defenses, relying in part on support from European partners. Germany has recently pledged to supply IRIS-T systems to Kiev.

On April 15, Zelensky acknowledged that Ukraine is facing a critical shortage of missiles for its Patriot systems, underscoring the severity of the situation and the pressure on its air defense capabilities.