The key facts

  • According to UNIAN, 4 of roughly 32 ballistic missiles were shot down; the Armed Forces report as of 09:00 listed 4 missiles and 149 drones
  • Russian Defense Ministry: strikes on the Pivnichnyi bridge, the Trypilska thermal power plant (1,800 MW), the Kyivska substation (750 kV), and the Meridian company
  • Germany cannot transfer additional Patriots from its stocks; the Netherlands is discussing the supply of 500 PAC-3 MSE missiles worth $2.1 billion

Low interception rate

On the night of November 7, Ukrainian air defenses shot down only 4 of roughly 32 ballistic and quasi-ballistic missiles launched at Ukraine. This was reported by UNIAN, citing a source close to the head of military intelligence Kyrylo Budanov; the same figure is cited by Gazeta.Ru and Life.ru. In its preliminary report, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said that by 09:00 four missiles and 149 drones had been shot down or suppressed.

What, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, was hit

The Russian Defense Ministry announced a massive strike on Kyiv and the Kyiv region. According to the ministry, the targets hit included the Pivnichnyi road bridge in Kyiv, which, the ministry claims, was used to transfer weapons and equipment; the Trypilska thermal power plant with a capacity of 1,800 MW; the 750 kV Kyivska electrical substation; and the Kyiv-based Meridian company, which produces Flamingo cruise missiles. Earlier, according to Gazeta.Ru, the Russian army struck four thermal power plants in Ukraine.

Context on Patriot supplies

Against the backdrop of the report on the low interception rate, Life.ru cites two facts about Patriot systems. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that Berlin currently cannot transfer additional systems to Ukraine from its own stocks: they cannot be quickly replenished, and new deliveries would weaken Germany's own defenses. At the same time, in early November the Netherlands began discussing with allies how to speed up deliveries of interceptors: the talk is of a possible sale to Ukraine of 500 PAC-3 MSE missiles and related equipment worth $2.1 billion. Washington approved the potential deal on October 30, but the timing of the ammunition transfer has not yet been determined.