The shortage meant that almost no ballistic targets were intercepted during the latest Russian attack, the source told CNN. In the early hours of October 14, Russian missiles hit three power plants in Kyiv and energy infrastructure facilities in Kharkiv.
Four people were killed and 25 more injured in Kyiv, according to The Insider. CNN noted that Ukraine has likely been left without interceptors before.
Volodymyr Zelensky has spoken for months about the shortage of Patriot missiles, calling it a threat to the country's defense capability. In August he said he was making "millions" of calls trying to negotiate supplies, and that Ukraine had only a tenth of the interceptors it needed.
On October 15, Zelensky said Ukraine would resume strikes on Russian oil refineries: during the three days Kyiv refrained from attacks at the request of the United States, Moscow continued to strike. He suggested he could soften his position in exchange for additional Patriot missile supplies. In an interview with the Financial Times, Zelensky said the Americans responded to requests for air defense funds by degrading Starlink's operation.
This week the Trump administration warned Kyiv and European allies that it could suspend intelligence sharing with Ukraine and European purchases of American weapons if the Ukrainian Armed Forces do not stop strikes on energy facilities deep inside Russia. Two European officials told CNN about this. According to them, halting the PURL mechanism, through which those purchases flow, would jeopardize future deliveries of Patriot interceptors.
Zelensky confirmed in an interview with NPR that the United States threatened to stop sharing intelligence if Ukraine continued to attack Russian oil refineries. He said his generals received the warning. Trump, meanwhile, insists Washington has not stopped exchanging data with Kyiv.