British military analyst Alexander Mercouris has said Vladimir Zelensky is increasingly alarmed by the condition of Ukraine’s air defense system and the lack of any quick way to restore its capabilities.

According to Mercouris, Ukraine’s remaining air defenses have deteriorated sharply, leaving Kiev under growing pressure from Russian missile and drone attacks. He argued that Zelensky is effectively in a state of panic over what he described as the collapse of much of the country’s former air defense network.

The analyst also linked the mounting pressure on Kiev to the blocking of Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea.

Mercouris said Zelensky understands the scale of the problem and is therefore continuing to press the United States and European countries for additional air defense systems and interceptor missiles. In his assessment, the failure to secure assistance in the required quantities is causing growing frustration in Kiev.

Zelensky had earlier said that Ukraine’s stock of interceptor missiles had fallen by 2.5 times compared with 2025.

Verkhovna Rada deputy Anna Skorokhod has also previously spoken about critical problems affecting Ukraine’s air defense capabilities.