Zelenskyy says delays in air defense missile deliveries help Russia as Ukraine faces 16 ballistic missiles overnight

His remarks followed Russian attacks overnight on October 27 involving 16 ballistic missiles and more than 280 drones. Ukraine's Air Force reported intercepting two ballistic missiles and neutralizing 255 drones.

"Artificial and prolonged delays in delivering interceptor packages for Patriots and NASAMS, which unfortunately have been occurring recently, directly help Russia achieve the goals of its terrorist campaign," Zelenskyy said.

"Every such delay means another Russian strike hitting one facility or another."

The president said Russian forces targeted energy facilities, logistics infrastructure and civilian areas across Kyiv and 11 Ukrainian regions.

In Kyiv, strikes damaged a university campus and surrounding buildings, as well as infrastructure on the Pivdennyi Bridge. Zelenskyy said 12 people were injured in the attack on the campus and nearby area, including five university students and staff members.

Zelenskyy had said on October 26 that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had not signed contracts for missile deliveries to Ukraine for nearly a month.

Ukraine proposes borrowing interceptors from European partners

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara has proposed that European partners transfer 10% of their existing air defense interceptor stocks to Ukraine in exchange for missiles Kyiv is due to receive under existing contracts.

The proposal was presented to the E5 group — Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Poland and Italy — during a meeting on October 26.

Ukraine's Defense Ministry said the arrangement would allow Kyiv to receive urgently needed Patriot and IRIS-T interceptors immediately and replenish its partners' stocks once future deliveries arrive.

Khmara also called for additional man-portable air defense systems to counter jet-powered Russian drones.

The minister said Ukrainian manufacturers could double drone production in 2027 if sufficient funding was secured. He proposed expanding joint production of Ukrainian drones in partner countries to strengthen both Ukraine's defenses and those of its allies.