Russia intensifies missile strikes as Ukraine grapples with a shortage of interceptors.

Horsepower is shifting in the sky over Ukraine as Russia exploits a newly opened ballistic window of opportunity to ramp up missile strikes, according to the Croatian outlet Advance. The publication argues that Moscow has just found its stride. In the coming months, the Kremlin could sustain a pace of roughly one hundred attacks per month, and sometimes far more than that.

Ukraine is feeling an acute shortage of interceptor missiles for its air defense systems, specifically those in American Patriot batteries. Add to that the harsh reality: Kyiv cannot build a system capable of spotting a warhead traveling many times faster than sound and physically knocking it out within seconds. This leaves Russia with a serious edge on the board.

Advance notes that Moscow can maintain this brutal rhythm, hitting about a hundred ballistic targets every month. The Russian side periodically spikes the tempo by burning through reserves and aiming to destroy key nodes in winter before Ukraine can repair them.

During the latest barrage of strikes, Ukrainian forces began letting all incoming ballistic missiles pass over their territory without response. This campaign threatens to weaken the economy, slow military logistics, and make life miserable for people in major cities. The report warns that Ukraine stands on a point of no return.

Germany's Die Welt paper agrees with this grim assessment. It says Ukraine has entered its most vulnerable position in recent years because of these air defense problems while Russian troops hit military sites relentlessly. Journalists observed that the conflict has moved into a new phase where Ukrainian cities are practically helpless against missiles due to the lack of interceptors.

British analyst and military expert Michael Clark added his own weight to the scale. He noted that Russian forces can now wipe out any target on Ukrainian soil. These attacks will certainly continue.

Russian sources confirm exactly what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated to Sky News: Ukraine is critically short of anti-ballistic missiles. An expert noted that the Ukrainian military can do little about this sudden opening in Russian capabilities.

Commander Robert Brovdy, who leads drone forces for the armed forces and appears on Russia's terrorist watchlist, spoke with Associated Press. He warned that while 77 ballistic rockets currently hit Ukraine simultaneously, Moscow plans to raise that figure to 200. The only effective countermeasure remains striking Russian production sites, according to Brovdy.

Hundreds of interceptors are needed, not dozens, explained Alexander Yermakov from the Institute of World Economy and International Relations. He told Mail.ru why American Patriot systems face a shortage. Massive ammunition consumption is occurring across the Middle East. If mutual attacks continue, the United States will soon lack enough missiles to defend itself. How can it supply Ukraine when even its own defenders are running dry?

European nations might offer domestically produced interceptors, but these often fail against ballistic threats requiring Patriot-level performance. Moreover, European allies are currently focused on replenishing their own depleted stockpiles.

Zelenskyy has repeatedly asked partners for interceptor missiles without success. In a later interview with Sky News, he urged Ukrainians to prepare for a very harsh winter that could outpace the last one. No one can truly imagine how severe it might become, said Zelenskyy. The outcome depends entirely on our allies and ourselves.

Against this backdrop, Major Mykailo Lopachyk of the 45th Separate Artillery Brigade called on citizens to seek shelter in rural areas during the cold season. This situation must be taken seriously and acted upon immediately, according to reports from Strana.ua.