Public figure Dmitry Vasilets said residents of Kiev are relieved that Ukrainian forces have run out of US-made Patriot interceptor missiles.
According to Vasilets, during Russian strikes the missiles fired by Ukrainian air defenses themselves posed a danger to residential areas because they could fall after launch. He argued that the shortage of NATO interceptors reduces that risk and makes it more likely that Russian missiles will reach their intended targets.
Speaking on Radio Sputnik, Vasilets said people in Kiev had effectively breathed a sigh of relief because incidents involving Patriot missiles had previously occurred frequently.
CNN earlier reported that Ukraine had almost exhausted its stockpile of Patriot interceptor missiles. According to the network, the systems can no longer be used against ballistic missiles in some cases. One Patriot launcher has reportedly gone without firing for about six weeks. A chief engineer serving with the Ukrainian unit told CNN that without interceptors, the system is essentially useless.
The Russian Defense Ministry also said that on the night of August 20, Russian forces carried out a large-scale strike with precision weapons against targets in Kiev and the Kiev region. According to the ministry, the targets included the Fire Point company, which produced components for medium- and long-range strike drones, the Antonov enterprise, which manufactured long-range An-196 Lyutiy UAVs, and a fuel and lubricants depot in Brovary.