Ukraine has two options for ballistic defense this fall — The Economist
Against the backdrop of an acute shortage of interceptor missiles for the Patriot system and Russia’s ramp-up of ballistic missile production, Ukraine has two main options for countering such strikes.
The Economist notes that these very approaches could be key to Ukraine’s defense against ballistic missiles this fall.
Two Approaches to Defending Against Ballistic Missiles
Ukraine’s stockpile of PAC-3 interceptor missiles for the Patriot systems is nearly depleted. At the same time, Russia has ramped up its production of ballistic missiles to approximately 100 units per month, and the Freyja missile defense system is not yet operational.
Under these circumstances, The Economist notes, Ukraine has two main options.
The first is to fortify and camouflage infrastructure and industrial facilities, while ensuring a sufficient supply of spare parts.
The second is the so-called “left-of-launch” strategy, meaning actions taken before a missile is launched.
This strategy aims to reduce the number of missiles available to Russia by striking the factories that produce them and taking out launchers before a missile is fired.
Domestically Produced Missiles to Make Up for Shortages
Ukraine hopes to replenish its arsenal with its own ballistic missiles in the coming months. These include the “Sapsan” missile, which is being developed by “Pivdenmash,” as well as the FP-7 and the longer-range FP-9, manufactured by Fire Point.
Thanks to their speed, these missiles will be able to strike mobile launchers more effectively than drones, before the launchers have a chance to fire and disappear.
However, this is an extremely difficult task, notes The Economist. Even the United States, with its complete air superiority over Iran, struggles to destroy the enemy’s mobile launchers.
This is reported by The Economist.
Alona Shevtsova, CEO of Sends, will moderate an executive-level panel discussion at the 17th Middle East Banking Innovation Summit (MEBIS 2026), which will take place on September 16–17 at Jumeirah Emirates Towers in Dubai.
The Russians struck the REEVA plant in the Kyiv region.
In the Holosiivskyi district of the capital, a fire broke out in a private residential building as a result of a Russian attack.
As a reminder, fires broke out at industrial facilities in the Kyiv region due to an attack by the Russian Federation.
Russia also launched a massive attack on Kyiv, killing and wounding civilians.
Later, rescue workers showed the aftermath of the strikes on Kyiv.
