Zelensky warns of possible major Russian strike overnight as Ukraine seeks more Patriot interceptors
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Russia is likely to launch another major attack overnight, urging people across the country to pay close attention to air raid alerts. In a message posted on social media on Wednesday, he said there was a high probability the strike would be carried out during the night. He added that the Russians had prepared a large attack several days earlier.
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Zelensky told residents in all regions of Ukraine to stay safe and follow official warnings. He also repeated his appeal for allies to provide more missiles for Ukraine's air defence system. The warning comes as Kyiv says it is facing a surge in Russian ballistic missile attacks and a shortage of PAC-3 interceptor missiles.
The issue has become more urgent because Ukraine says only American Patriot systems are capable of shooting down these ballistic missiles. Zelensky said he discussed the possibility of Ukraine producing Patriot interceptors during a call on Tuesday with Donald Trump at the White House. In early July, Trump had said he intended to allow Ukraine to make these surface-to-air missiles, according to the supplied material.
The warning highlights the continuing strain on Ukraine's air defences more than three years into the war. Air raid alerts remain a central part of civilian protection across the country, and shortages of interceptors can affect how well Ukraine can respond to incoming missile strikes. The request for more Patriots also underlines the dependence of Kyiv's defences on Western military support.
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The latest appeal comes against the backdrop of repeated Russian ballistic missile attacks, which Ukraine says have intensified in recent weeks. Zelensky's comments also follow his talks with Trump, suggesting that air defence supplies remain a live issue in Ukraine's discussions with its allies. The situation reflects both the immediate threat to civilians and the broader challenge of sustaining missile defence during an extended conflict.
What remains unclear is whether the expected overnight strike will take place and what scale it may have. It is also not known whether additional Patriot interceptors or production arrangements will follow Zelensky's discussions with Trump. For now, Ukrainian authorities are urging people to heed alerts and remain prepared as the night unfolds.
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