Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is urging the U.S. for more Patriot missile interceptors amid a deepening investigation into bomb shelter deficiencies that threaten civilian safety.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has renewed his call for U.S.-made Patriot missile interceptors following a devastating Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv that resulted in at least 10 fatalities and numerous injuries on August 1. In a video message shared on X, Zelenskyy emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “The world has Patriot missiles. What matters now is for our partners to make the political decision to provide the necessary packages. The United States knows what we need. Europe knows what we need.” He further asserted that “anti-ballistic missiles must protect people – not sit in stockpiles.”
This appeal comes as a former Ukrainian government official described alarming conditions in bomb shelters across the country. Luliia Mendel, a former spokesperson for the Ukrainian government, criticized the current state of civilian protection, stating that the crisis extends well beyond air defenses. She noted that the ongoing investigation into bomb shelters has revealed significant deficiencies, despite the billions spent on their construction and maintenance.
“It’s not possible to keep begging for missiles all the time. This is not how one protects the population,” Mendel remarked. She accused Zelenskyy of shifting responsibility onto the United States and Western partners for the lack of adequate protection within Ukraine. Many Ukrainians have resorted to makeshift measures, such as drawing “anti-drone curtains” and closing “anti-missile windows,” to illustrate their precarious situation, where survival often depends on luck rather than systematic state protection.
“Scandalous situations keep arising,” Mendel said, highlighting that many individuals lack access to shelters that are close enough to reach quickly during emergencies. She pointed out that the Civil Protection Shelter Coalition, launched by Ukraine and Finland in May 2025, aims to implement a civil defense strategy through 2034. During the coalition’s inaugural meeting on November 27, members pledged over 22 million euros (approximately $25 million) to support the construction and modernization of bomb shelters.
In June, Ukraine’s Human Rights Commissioner, Dmytro Lubinets, reported that inspections of 1,066 bomb shelters nationwide revealed deficiencies in 93% of them. Many shelters were found to be locked, flooded, or otherwise unusable, and accessibility for people with disabilities was often inadequate, according to The Ukrainian Week.
In response to the ongoing crisis, Prime Minister Sergii Koretskyi ordered a nationwide inspection of civil defense shelters on July 30, following a major Russian missile attack that left some civilians unable to access shelters. Reports indicate that Kyiv has spent billions of hryvnias on bomb shelters since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced that the city allocated more than 1.1 billion hryvnias (about $26 million) for shelter repairs in 2026, after spending roughly 7 billion hryvnias from 2022 through 2025.
Despite these efforts, many civilians have been forced to seek refuge in inadequate locations, such as bathrooms or corridors, which provide little protection from direct hits. Some individuals have reported being denied entry to shelters due to their pets, while others have had to rent hotel rooms to access shelter facilities. Many are left with no choice but to sleep in underground parking garages, as reported by various outlets.
Mendel explained that thousands of shelters fail to meet basic safety standards, and mandatory evacuations from numerous villages and towns in frontline regions are becoming increasingly common as Russia expands its fire control. “Ukraine’s civilian population is largely unprotected, not solely because of shortages of missiles, but because of the absence of any comprehensive system that would give people reliable places to shelter and the means to survive,” she stated.
Zelenskyy has previously indicated to Axios that he requested an emergency shipment of approximately 300 Patriot interceptors ahead of the winter season, emphasizing that Ukraine “needed the Patriots yesterday.” He warned that domestic production of these interceptors could take one to five years. However, Mendel expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of such a large number of interceptors, noting that Russia has intensified its use of guided aerial bombs across the front-line regions, which may not be adequately countered by missile systems alone.
The humanitarian situation in Ukraine continues to deteriorate, with Zelenskyy and his government warning that the upcoming winter could be even harsher than the last. Mendel cautioned that without a comprehensive overhaul of Ukraine’s civilian defense system, the country faces an increasingly dire humanitarian crisis. “Zelenskyy will continue demanding more support and missiles while shifting responsibility,” she concluded.
During a recent appearance on Fox News’ “Hannity,” Zelenskyy mentioned that former President Donald Trump had “accepted that he will give us licenses” to produce the interceptors in Ukraine. However, Trump later clarified that no agreement had been reached and that discussions were still ongoing. “I don’t think this would ever happen, but, you know, there’s people that, you give that technology, they can someday turn on you,” Trump warned reporters at Camp David on July 31.
As the situation evolves, the need for effective civilian protection measures in Ukraine remains critical, with calls for both immediate support and long-term solutions to ensure the safety of its population.
According to Fox News Digital, the ongoing investigation into bomb shelters highlights significant gaps in Ukraine’s civil defense infrastructure, raising urgent questions about the safety of its citizens.