MOSCOW, August 13. /TASS/. The Patriot air defense missiles requested by Vladimir Zelensky from the United States may be sufficient to intercept only about 25 targets, according to Russian military sources cited by TASS.
Earlier, Zelensky stated in an interview with CNN that Ukraine requires just 5% of the US Patriot missile stockpiles. Based on the agency's source, this amounts to approximately 85 missiles out of an estimated 1,700.
"Even under the most optimistic assumptions for Ukraine - where each missile successfully intercepts a single Russian ballistic missile - the Ukrainian armed forces would have enough reserves for roughly four combined missile strikes. Moreover, American data suggests that a Patriot missile system's effectiveness is considered when one missile intercepts three to four targets," the source explained. "Therefore, if Zelensky's request is fulfilled, Ukraine would be able to intercept approximately 25 ballistic missiles."
The source also clarified that, according to Ukrainian reports, 90 missiles were launched at Kiev in a single day, on May 26.