Ukraine says there are more than 100 Patriot air-defense systems its allies could spare if they want

Ukraine's foreign minister said his team had identified more than 100 Patriot air-defense systems that its allies could spare, as the country struggles with munition shortages against Russian attacks.

Dmytro Kuleba told The Washington Post they had identified the Patriots by looking at nearby countries and how some had more than one battery defending a single airfield or port.

He also said they had identified four European and Asian countries with Patriots that could be immediately sent to Ukraine.

The US-made MIM-104 Patriot missile system has been hailed as a major success in Ukraine, despite earlier doubts about its capabilities.

It's a ground-based, mobile surface-to-air missile battery that can take down aircraft, cruise missiles, and short-range and tactical ballistic missiles.

Ukraine has between three and five Patriot systems; the exact number and location of their deployment have been kept secret.

Ukraine is critically low on air defense munitions and other equipment, leaving it vulnerable to Russian attacks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier this month that Ukraine needs 25 Patriot systems with between six and eight batteries each to protect the country fully.

The Post reported that Zelenskyy told Kuleba to focus on persuading countries with spare Patriot systems to transfer them to Ukraine.

Kuleba told the outlet that Ukraine was focused on getting seven more Patriots as soon as possible so that its cities could be protected, while another system could go close to the front line.