Aug 12, 2026 · 6 min · 3 segments
Steve Forbes warns that Vladimir Putin still believes he can defeat Ukraine because of Ukraine's shortage of missile interceptors, and urges the U.S. and NATO to act now to help their embattled ally…
Steve ForbesHost
In July alone, Russia launched a record number of missiles and drones at Ukrainian territory.
Patriot batteries, the only system that reliably stops ballistic missiles, are running low on interceptors.
and Russia is adapting jet-powered Shahed drones that now fly too fast for many interceptor drones to catch.
Russia is quickly stepping up production of the kind of ballistic and cruise missiles that can dangerously exploit Ukraine's shortage of interceptor missiles.
First, it is launching more ballistic missiles against Ukrainian facilities to cripple Kyiv's ability to make its own ballistic missiles.
Second, it is targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure to deprive the country of heating and electricity this winter.
Putin figures that such mass deprivation will break Ukraine's will to fight and soften it up for a capitulation to the Kremlin.
The President should keep his original promise and allow Ukraine to build interceptors domestically rather than depend entirely on shipments from abroad.
NATO should also kick in 30 or more of these aircraft from their current stockpiles, as well as other missile defense systems.
In July alone, Russia launched a record number of missiles and drones at Ukrainian territory.
Patriot batteries, the only system that reliably stops ballistic missiles, are running low on interceptors.
and Russia is adapting jet-powered Shahed drones that now fly too fast for many interceptor drones to catch.
Russia is quickly stepping up production of the kind of ballistic and cruise missiles that can dangerously exploit Ukraine's shortage of interceptor missiles.
First, it is launching more ballistic missiles against Ukrainian facilities to cripple Kyiv's ability to make its own ballistic missiles.
Second, it is targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure to deprive the country of heating and electricity this winter.
Putin figures that such mass deprivation will break Ukraine's will to fight and soften it up for a capitulation to the Kremlin.
The President should keep his original promise and allow Ukraine to build interceptors domestically rather than depend entirely on shipments from abroad.
NATO should also kick in 30 or more of these aircraft from their current stockpiles, as well as other missile defense systems.
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