In Ukraine, the familiar, chilling sound of air raid sirens rings through the streets. For millions, it’s a signal to take shelter. For Ukraine’s air defense forces, it marks the beginning of another desperate attempt to hold the line against a storm of Russian drones and missiles. But this time, the defenders are running dangerously low on the very tools they need to protect their skies.
According to a report by French newspaper Le Monde, Ukraine’s two French-Italian SAMP/T air defense batteries are now effectively out of missiles. The situation is even bleaker for the French-made Crotale system, which hasn’t received fresh munitions in over eighteen months. Amid an escalating Russian aerial onslaught, this leaves Ukraine alarmingly vulnerable.
On May 25, Ukraine’s emergency services described a harrowing atmosphere of “terror” after back-to-back nights of Russian air strikes. The capital, Kyiv, was once again under fire. These attacks are no longer isolated incidents. They are part of a larger campaign—a calculated strategy by Moscow to grind down Ukraine’s defenses by overwhelming them with sheer volume and complexity.
Russia has been increasing the frequency and variety of its attacks. A single wave can include everything from cheap Iranian-made Shahed drones to advanced Iskander ballistic missiles. By combining different projectile types, flying them along unpredictable paths, and deploying decoys to confuse radar systems, Russia is forcing Ukraine to expend precious interceptor missiles at an unsustainable rate.
Ukrainian officials and commanders say this new strategy is eroding their air defense capacity at a dangerous pace.
“In some places, they scatter across the sky and then group up again,” said Artem, a 34-year-old Ukrainian air defense commander cited by Le Monde. “They also use a lot of physical and electronic decoys.”
His unit has resorted to using ground-based decoys to mislead incoming Russian ordnance, but this tactic offers only partial relief. The solution, Artem emphasized, lies in acquiring more long-range air defense systems like Patriot, IRIS-T, and SAMP/T. “Today, we have nothing to protect southern Ukraine from ballistic missiles,” he warned.
Ukraine’s once-resilient missile defense architecture is fraying under pressure. While the U.S.-made Patriot system remains the gold standard—capable of intercepting a wide array of threats—it is scarce. Ukraine operates just six Patriot batteries, not nearly enough to cover the sprawling territory targeted by Russian forces.
The SAMP/T and Crotale systems, while less advanced, are vital cogs in this defensive machinery. The SAMP/T (Sol-Air Moyenne Portée/Terrestre), jointly developed by France and Italy, uses the Aster 30 Block 1 missile to engage aircraft, cruise missiles, and some ballistic threats. Its advanced Arabel radar tracks up to 100 targets simultaneously and can guide 16 missiles at once, offering crucial defense for urban centers and strategic infrastructure.
The Crotale system, on the other hand, is designed for short-range defense. It protects mobile units and infrastructure against low-flying aircraft and drones. Its absence is particularly dangerous in urban warfare scenarios, where quick, responsive systems are needed to stop low-altitude threats.
But both systems now face a crippling shortage of ammunition.
According to Corriere della Sera, Ukraine appealed to Italy and France in March 2025 for 50 Aster 30 missiles to keep the SAMP/T batteries operational. Italy, with its own supply at “critical levels,” had little to offer. France has more in reserve but is reluctant to deplete its national inventory.
This shortage is not new. In early 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged that the country has never had enough of these missiles.
“These are sophisticated systems – good systems – but they’re not equivalent to the Patriot,” Zelenskyy said at a press briefing. “They’re effective and can shoot down targets, but not everything the Patriots can intercept… There is one problem with these systems – a significant shortage of missiles, which has always been a constant issue.”
Ukraine’s air defense network is a patchwork of Western-supplied systems, integrated to create a layered shield. The Patriot’s “shoot-shoot-see” method—firing two missiles per target—offers high reliability but uses up munitions quickly. By contrast, the SAMP/T follows a “shoot-see-shoot” doctrine that conserves missiles but risks letting threats slip through in high-intensity scenarios.
These limitations have become increasingly apparent as Russia adapts. Upgraded Iskander-M missiles now follow quasi-ballistic trajectories, complicating intercepts even for Patriot systems. Additionally, the use of radar decoys means that radar-guided systems like SAMP/T and Crotale must be more discerning—and therefore slower—in responding to threats.
In many regions, Ukraine’s once-impressive interception rate has dropped sharply. Where defenders previously took down over 90% of drones and missiles, the rate has now plummeted to just 30% in some sectors.
Despite its shortcomings, the SAMP/T has demonstrated flashes of effectiveness. In March 2025, one of Ukraine’s two SAMP/T batteries reportedly downed a Russian fighter jet—an impressive feat that underlined its potential when used strategically. However, without a consistent supply of missiles, such moments are becoming rare.
Worse still, the aging Aster 30 Block 1 missiles currently in use are not equipped with the most recent upgrades, and the systems themselves are experiencing maintenance and spare parts issues. These factors have only compounded Ukraine’s difficulties.
France and Italy continue to promise support, but the reality is bleak. European stockpiles are finite, and political will to deplete national arsenals for a long and grinding war is not guaranteed.
Russia’s campaign isn’t just military—it’s psychological. Every successful strike that breaches Ukrainian airspace chips away at public morale and exposes vulnerabilities. Infrastructure damage is mounting. Energy grids, water facilities, and transport networks have all been targeted, turning daily life into a struggle for survival in many cities.
For Ukraine, holding the line isn’t just about territory—it’s about proving resilience in the face of overwhelming odds. But without immediate and sustained military aid, especially air defense munitions, that line may begin to break.
NATO countries are watching closely. The United States has already pledged additional Patriot interceptors, but delivery timelines are uncertain. Germany has offered more IRIS-T systems, which complement Ukraine’s defense network well. Still, these measures may come too late unless there is an urgent airlift of munitions.
There is also growing pressure on France and Italy to ramp up Aster 30 production and prioritize Ukrainian needs. Yet logistical, industrial, and political barriers remain.
Ukraine is fighting a high-tech war with dwindling resources. Its defenders are skilled, its systems integrated, and its resolve unshaken. But resolve alone won’t stop a missile.
As Russia ramps up its air war, the international community faces a crucial test: will it act decisively to resupply Ukraine with the tools it needs, or will it allow a key ally to be battered into submission?
