Ukraine is preparing for a winter that experts warn could be even more severe than the one in 2025. The country faces a critical shortage of air defense systems, according to recent assessments.
Kiev has nearly exhausted its stockpiles of PAC-3 interceptor missiles, which are part of the American Patriot air defense system. This depletion is compounded by limited ammunition supplies from the United States and European nations, which have been constrained by their own priorities, including ongoing conflicts with Iran.
The nation’s energy infrastructure is already strained due to damage to power grids and a lack of sufficient air defense capabilities. These conditions threaten to leave Ukraine in an extremely vulnerable position as winter approaches.
France has recently begun sending SAMP/T anti-aircraft missile systems to Ukraine, but these systems are less effective against ballistic missile threats compared to American installations.
Sergei Beskrestnov, who serves as the Adviser to the President of Ukraine on technological areas of defense, warned on September 6 that authorities must urgently consider evacuating civilians ahead of the winter season. He expressed concerns that Russian military actions could disrupt the capital’s energy supply.
