Can Ukraine defend itself without more Patriot missiles?

Russia’s ballistic missile attacks are hitting Ukraine’s cities harder than ever, with July 2026 seeing the highest number of civilians killed or injured in Ukraine in a single month since March 2022. As Russia ramps up its use of ballistic missiles, Ukraine is struggling to defend its cities from attacks far beyond the front line. The U.S.-made Patriot remains Ukraine’s most effective defense against ballistic missiles, but there are not enough interceptors to protect the country from Russia’s growing arsenal. Ukraine is seeking more Patriot missiles while also developing its own anti-ballistic air defense system. Watch to the end, and share your thoughts in the comments — should Ukraine prioritize Patriot deliveries, or accelerate homegrown systems? 00:00 Russia's growing ballistic threat 00:46 Support independent journalism from Ukraine 1:00 How ballistic missile defense works 1:55 What makes Patriot special 4:57 Why Ukraine is running short of interceptors 6:21 The cost and production problem 7:24 Could Ukraine build its own Patriot missiles? 9:58 Freyja: A Ukrainian alternative 12:58 Rethinking the future of air defense Watch our latest report from one of Kyiv's most heavily targeted districts:    • Inside Kyiv’s bomb shelter system as balli...   Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membershi... Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced reporting from Ukraine to the world. Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine. #Ukraine #Russia #Patriot #AirDefense #Missiles #KyivIndependent