Russia is producing missiles faster than Western manufacturers can produce interceptors.

The Russian military has not depleted its missile stocks even in the fourth year of the war with Ukraine. The Kremlin currently possesses about 500 missiles and has no plans to halt production. Meanwhile, manufacturers of Patriot air defense missiles are still falling behind the Russians in munitions production, wrote The Economist.

For instance, Lockheed Martin, which builds Patriot systems and their accompanying missiles (PAC-3), is increasing its capacity to 650 missiles per year. However, this is approximately 100 fewer than the projected Russian production of ballistic missiles.

Simultaneously, according to ISW analysts, Russian leader Vladimir Putin is using long-range strikes on Ukrainian cities, aggressive rhetorical campaigns, and excessive pessimism in the West regarding the battlefield situation in Ukraine to undermine Ukrainians’ morale and convince the West that Russia’s victory in Ukraine is inevitable and that supporting Ukraine is futile.

Conversely, on May 26 Ukraine continued to target defense production facilities in Russia where Shahed drones are manufactured. Ukrainian drones attacked the Yelabuga and the Ivanovo regions, hitting a plant that produces components for Russian equipment and weapons, including missiles.