Robert "Madyar" Brovdi, Commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, stated in an interview with AP that Russian forces are currently capable of simultaneously launching a salvo of 77 ballistic missiles. According to him, Moscow plans to increase this number to 200.
According to Brovdi's assessment, in recent weeks the concentration of reactive "Shaheds" has also doubled — targets that are more difficult to shoot down with available air defense systems.
Why the number 200 matters
The key problem is not the number of launch systems in Russia, but the number of interceptors in Ukraine. Patriot remains the only system in the Ukrainian arsenal capable of shooting down ballistic missiles, and their shortage is critical.
This is one of Ukraine's most vulnerable points, as the country lacks interceptors for American Patriot missiles — the only system Ukraine has in its arsenal against ballistic missiles
Brovdi clarified the logic of the threat: even partial realization of Russia's stated plans creates a burden that air defense physically cannot handle.
Even if they manage to achieve only half of this number, all of it will be coming at us
Where solutions are being sought
According to the commander, the only way to actually reduce the scale of the threat is through strikes on facilities involved in ballistic missile production, deep within Russian territory. This is an argument in favor of continuing Ukraine's long-range operations, rather than merely increasing defensive systems.
In parallel, President Zelenskyy stated that Patriot missiles exist in the world and called on partners to make a political decision to transfer them, as well as to increase sanctions pressure on Russia.
The question is not whether interceptor missiles physically exist — but whether partners are ready to accelerate their delivery before Russia manages to increase salvos to the stated 200 units.
