Zelenskyy: Patriot Missiles Are Ineffective Against Shahed Drones, Each UAV Costs 40 Times Less Than a Rocket.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Remarks on the Patriot System

According to UATV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has highlighted the limited effectiveness of the Patriot air defense system when countering Iranian-made Shahed drones. He pointed out that a single Iranian drone is 40 times cheaper than a Patriot missile, creating a significant challenge for air defense operations. Zelenskyy also revealed that Ukraine has received six requests for airspace protection assistance from Middle Eastern nations. He reaffirmed Ukraine’s willingness to share its expertise in air defense strategies.

Threats from Iran

Zelenskyy also addressed threats from Iran, which has warned of potential strikes against Ukraine in retaliation for Kyiv’s support of Israel.

“We are not afraid of such statements. We have been hearing these kinds of threats daily for the past four years—actually, for 12 years. This is nothing new to us,” the president stated.

He further cited data on U.S. missile production, which stands at roughly 60 to 65 missiles per month, equating to 700 to 800 missiles annually. Statistics show that 803 missiles were used on the first day of the conflict in the Middle East. Zelenskyy emphasized that a prolonged war in Iran would likely benefit Putin.

Experts commenting on the situation include:

• Vyacheslav Potapenko, Deputy Director of the National Institute for Strategic Studies;
• Valeriy Yakovenko, Head of the DroneUA group of companies;
• Pavlo Hvozdenko, Deputy Commander of the Special Purpose Unmanned Systems Unit 'Typhoon' of the National Guard of Ukraine;
• Valeriy Borovyk, Founder of First Contact, a defense supply company.

Zelenskyy’s observations about the Patriot system underscore the complexity of modern air defense challenges, particularly in light of emerging threats from unmanned aerial vehicles. Given the regional situation and Iran’s activities, Ukraine needs international support and must adapt its defense strategies to effectively respond to new dangers. Strengthening cooperation with Middle Eastern countries could be a vital step in bolstering Ukraine’s defensive capabilities.