Ukraine’s defenses may collapse under escalating Russian attacks

Ukraine is at risk of falling short of air defense weapons after US military aid slowed down in the summer — just as Moscow’s deadly attacks escalate with a record number of airstrikes, according to a new report.

Kyiv has been struggling to intercept the hundreds of drones and missiles fired by Moscow on a daily basis, with western analysts warning that if Russia maintains the rate of its latest attacks, then Kyiv’s defenses may crumble.

“It’s a question of time for when munitions run out,” one source familiar with the US deliveries to Ukraine told the Financial Times.

Irregular and small supplies have been reportedly sent to Ukraine since June following a directive from the Pentagon arguing that providing defense weapons for Kyiv could deplete America’s own stockpile.

The Pentagon first paused and then slowed the shipment of Pac-3 interceptors meant for the Patriot air defense systems active in Ukraine, senior US and Ukrainian officials told the FT.

The US also stalled on shipments of Stinger man-portable air defense systems, precision-guided artillery shells, more than 100 Hellfire and Aim missiles, and F-16 fighter jets — all weapons critical to Ukraine’s defenses.

The White House confirmed the halt in July, saying the decision was made to “put America’s interests first.”

The shortage led Kyiv’s forces to expend a significant amount of their ammunition to defend against Russia’s escalating barrages on energy and civilian infrastructure throughout the summer, Ukrainian officials told the FT.

A White House official slammed reports that it is depriving Ukraine of air defense munitions as false, telling The Post that the Department of War is working to support Ukraine’s needs.

The official added that European allies must not only step up to provide more aid to Ukraine, but they must also increase economic pressures on Russia to end the war.

The Department of War declined to comment.

The issue of Ukraine’s waning defenses comes after Russia fired its largest barrage of the war yet over the weekend, launching 810 drones and decoys and 13 missiles over the border.

Four civilians were killed, including a mother and her 2-month-old baby, said Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko.

The attack was followed up by another mass bombardment on Monday, with one of the airstrikes killing at least 24 people who were waiting in line to collect their monthly pensions in eastern Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.