Zelensky Urges US to End Month-Long Patriot Missile Delay as Russian Strikes Kill Civilians

President Volodymyr Zelensky urged the US on Tuesday, Oct. 27, to approve urgently needed Patriot interceptor deliveries that have been delayed for nearly a month, warning that shortages are leaving Ukrainian civilians vulnerable to deadly Russian ballistic missile strikes. His appeal followed Russian attacks on Kyiv on Monday evening and overnight that killed a 46-year-old woman and injured 15 others. The strikes damaged the State University of Trade and Economics, including student dormitories and academic buildings, as well as nearby Kyoto Park, residential buildings and transport infrastructure. Five of those injured were university students and staff, Ukrainian officials said.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “It’s important that the world sees this, that our partners see it in the US, on which almost everything concerning Patriots depends,” Zelensky said in his evening address, calling for the necessary Pentagon authorizations to deliver the interceptors. The president warned that delays in Western air defense assistance were making it increasingly difficult for Ukraine to protect its cities. “Everyone hears and sees that it is now difficult for us to defend against Russian ballistic missiles. Above all, we lack missiles for Patriots,” Zelensky said. He said Russia had launched more than 100 ballistic missiles against Kyiv and the surrounding region in the two weeks since Oct. 14. Other Topics of Interest Ukraine Holds Its Strongest Frontline Position in a Long Time, Zelensky Says President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian troops had earlier tried using underground gas pipelines to bypass Ukrainian lines before Ukrainian Defense Forces refined the tactic. A day earlier, on Oct. 26, Zelensky revealed that Ukraine had been waiting nearly a month for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to authorize deliveries of missiles for Patriot and NASAMS air defense systems. “In particular, we have been waiting for nearly a month for Mr. Hegseth to sign off on missiles for Patriots and NASAMS,” Zelensky said, adding that he had instructed Ukrainian officials to raise the matter with Washington again. The delay reportedly affects missiles already paid for by Ukraine’s allies. Some of Ukraine’s interceptor supplies are purchased through NATO’s Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), under which European allies and other partners finance American-made weapons for Kyiv. Because the missiles are manufactured in the US, transfers from partner countries can require American authorization. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously acknowledged that a batch of interceptors might not have arrived but said the delay was not politically motivated. The Pentagon has maintained that US policy on military assistance to Ukraine has not changed, while emphasizing the need to preserve sufficient American interceptor stocks. For Kyiv, however, the delay comes as Russian ballistic missile attacks continue to cause civilian casualties and damage critical infrastructure. “Every support package is an opportunity to protect people’s lives,” Zelensky said Monday. Ukraine seeks Patriot interceptors from other partners With US authorization still pending, Ukraine is pursuing additional interceptor supplies from European countries and other partners. Zelensky said Monday that Ukrainian officials were working through several channels to secure PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles, both used by Patriot air defense systems. “We are working on several tracks – with the US, Europe, and other partners that have stocks of PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles,” he said. “Conversations with other countries are also ongoing.” The president said preparations were underway for the next meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, known as the Ramstein format, expected in November. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 90% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.