Ukrainian armed forces say they lack ammunition for air defense against Russian attacks on grain infrastructure

The Ukrainian army lacks the means to counter Russian strikes on grain infrastructure, which have become more and more frequent after Russia’s withdrawal from the grain deal, Natalia Humeniuk, spokesperson for operational command South, said.

“We need missile and air defense. Reinforced, powerful, modern, and capable of countering the types of missiles that the enemy uses against us,” Humeniuk told Agence France-Presse, subsequently quoted by Le Monde.

Humeniuk explained that the Russian army launches cruise, hypersonic, and anti-ship missiles simultaneously, making dispersed air defense systems “unable to counter the threat.” She added that Russia is “improving its tactics every time.”

According to Humeniuk, in addition to air defense systems, the Ukrainian military needs U.S. F-16 aircraft capable of striking the Russian warships launching missiles at southern Ukraine.

“In two or three months, we may have no ports left. Russia wants to dominate the Black Sea. They want to have a monopoly on grain exports. They want to remove Ukraine as a country capable of feeding the world,” Humeniuk concluded, adding that the Russian military had resumed its blockade of Ukrainian ports.