“Problem number one”: Russia makes more ballistic missiles than the world makes Patriots; Zelensky seeks interceptor packages

Intelligence warns of new strikes

In his evening address on 29 October President Volodymyr Zelensky said intelligence had information that Russia was preparing new ballistic missile strikes. The same day he chaired a meeting of the Stavka, the supreme command, focused on countering Russian ballistic missiles.

Sanctions pressure alone is not enough, the president said. Sanctions against missile production take effect only over time in key jurisdictions, sometimes after months of work, and while packages are delayed Russia keeps its supply schemes for components. Zelensky instructed the Foreign Ministry to speed up work with partners. The second track is interceptor packages, above all for Patriot systems, that allies could provide. The Stavka also set additional tasks for “long-range sanctions” — strikes on Russia, details of which were not disclosed. He recalled two missile strikes that destroyed two Su-34 jets and hit an Iskander launcher.

Flash: the PAC-3 shortage is “problem number one”

Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov, a freelance adviser to the president, told a briefing that Russia produces more ballistic missiles than the entire world produces Patriot interceptors. Add North Korean and Iranian missiles and the balance looks even worse, so global output of PAC-3 anti-ballistic missiles must grow — something the Pentagon is finding hard.

Ukraine could obtain licences to produce such missiles, but there is a queue for components. Kyiv has asked partners to lend missiles it would return once its own production starts, but Europeans have refused, citing global instability. The United States is estimated to hold several thousand PAC-3s, and covering Kyiv for the winter would take roughly 4–5% of that stock, Beskrestnov said. That requires a political decision in Washington; for now Ukraine receives very small quantities. He described the front line as stable, saying the main threat is a “war on cities” aimed at destroying Ukraine’s economy.

How private air defence works

According to the Defence Ministry, automated turrets in the private air defence project have destroyed more than 60 targets, including jet-powered drones, and dozens of drones over Kyiv in the past month alone. The project runs under Cabinet resolution No. 1506 of 19 November 2025, and almost 100 companies have joined it. It lets businesses protect staff, production sites and energy facilities without adding to the burden on the armed forces’ air defence.

Beskrestnov stressed that private air defence means turrets, interceptor drones, mobile fire teams and electronic warfare networks — not “private Gepards”. Companies build infrastructure and invest money, but only the military chooses targets and decides when to fire, because this is a single national defence system. Turrets are the last layer, not a shield for an entire city. He also said Ukraine has at least five interceptors for jet-powered drones, some highly effective; final conclusions will come after they are scaled up across units.

Starlink and alternatives

The adviser also commented on the Starlink speed limit: he said it affects only interceptors and helicopters, not strikes on Russian refineries, where Starlink does not work. Ukraine is looking at alternatives such as Amazon and OneWeb/Eutelsat, and command and control already has backup channels.