Ukraine Faces Tough Choice: Build Air Defenses or Strike Russian Oil
Part of composite article Ukraine Needs More Patriots Now, Says Top US Lawmaker — But New Missile Deal Is Years Away View full article →
A leading defense scholar says Ukraine cannot do both. Marc DeVore, who chairs two expert groups advising the UK defense ministry, asked both panels whether Ukraine could build Patriot air defense systems within a year. Both groups answered no. The finding highlights a critical trade-off for Kyiv: investing resources to protect its cities from Russian missiles or continuing long-range strikes on Russian oil refineries. The scholar’s assessment suggests Ukraine must prioritize one strategic goal over the other.