‘600-630 of most potent type weapon’: Zelenskyy’s big warning on Russian missile stockpile

Russia has a stockpile of 600 to 630 high-speed ballistic missiles, among its most powerful weapons, and is seeking to produce more than 100 a month ahead of winter, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said. The warning comes as Kyiv faces shortages of air-defence interceptors needed to counter such attacks and is seeking more Patriot missiles to strengthen its defences.According to Ukraine's state-owned media outlet, Ukrinform, Zelenskyy said Russia’s annual production capacity for the missiles could reach up to 1,300 ballistic missiles per year, signalling the scale of the threat Ukraine could face as Moscow prepares for another winter campaign of strikes.Zelenskyy said Ukraine has improved its ability to intercept Russian cruise missiles using fighter jets, IRIS-T and Hawk air defence systems, but ballistic missiles remain a major challenge.“Our fighter jets are doing it, and IRIS-T systems have also been added — we have the relevant systems, and missiles for them are arriving to counter Russian cruise missiles. Hawk air defence systems are also being used — we are intercepting cruise missiles with a variety of systems. But ballistic missiles are ballistic missiles. We are now working to ensure there are not 1,300 of them — to reduce that number,” he said, according to Ukrinform.Ukraine has been seeking additional air-defence systems and interceptor missiles from its Western allies as Russian attacks continue to target critical infrastructure and other sites.Zelenskyy said France had agreed to provide at least one SAMP/T air-defence system, while Germany was expected to supply around 600 PAC-2 and PAC-3 interceptors in 2027-28.“I wanted to secure 300 Patriot missiles for the winter package. The request from our Air Force is 360,” Zelenskyy said, according to The Guardian, while acknowledging that global production capacity for the interceptors remains limited.French president Emmanuel Macron has also said France would strengthen its military support for Ukraine, including through interceptor missiles.The Ukrainian president's warning comes as Kyiv prepares for the possibility of intensified Russian attacks during the winter months, when strikes on energy infrastructure could further pressure the country.Zelenskyy has also warned of a potential increase in Russian manpower, saying he believes Moscow could seek to mobilise another 300,000 soldiers after Russia's parliamentary elections in September, the Guardian reported.