Reduced deliveries of American Patriot systems due to the conflict with Iran leave Ukraine vulnerable to Russian ballistic missiles, leading to a record number of civilian casualties in July.
Ukraine is facing a serious problem in defending against Russian ballistic missiles as it runs out of American Patriot systems. The United States continues to redirect its military resources toward Iran, which directly impacts deliveries to Ukraine, reports SVT Nyheter.
As a result, July 2026 was the deadliest month for civilians in Ukraine since May 2022, with 437 confirmed civilian deaths.
Bengt Norborg, SVT's correspondent for Ukraine, currently in Kyiv, warns that Russia is taking advantage of the current situation. "Ryssland utnyttjar ett läge där Ukraina inte riktigt kan försvara sig som förr," Norborg said, which translates to Russia exploiting a position where Ukraine can no longer defend itself as before.
Norborg emphasizes that Patriot systems are crucial for Ukraine's defense against ballistic missiles, and reduced deliveries from the U.S. seriously undermine its air defense system. "Det här är ett jätteproblem," he stressed, describing the situation as a huge problem.
According to Norborg, the U.S. has its own issues with producing enough systems it deems necessary for the conflict with Iran. Meanwhile, efforts are underway to create an air defense system similar to Patriot, involving several European allies, which could potentially be ready by the end of the year.
"Det skulle naturligtvis också vara väldigt viktig för Europa att ha," Norborg said, adding that such a system would be extremely important for Europe itself.
Norborg also notes a shift in perception among Ukraine's allies. "De allierade till Ukraina ser ju vad som händer och ser hur lite man kan lita på Washington," he stated, suggesting that allies see how little they can rely on Washington.
The situation in Ukraine shows how global crises, such as the U.S.-Iran conflict, have a direct impact on the security situation in Europe and the reliability of American allies, a topic of interest for Croatia as a NATO member.
