Ukraine Strikes Deep Inside Russia, Leaving Short on Air Defense Missiles

Kyiv — Russia is reportedly running low on S-300 missile interceptors, according to sources speaking with CBS News. This shortage could potentially aid Ukraine in launching effective strikes deeper into Russian territory as analysts suggest a possible shift in favor of Kyiv more than four and a half years into the war.

The S-300, a Soviet-era surface-to-air missile system, has traditionally been a key part of Russia’s air defense against cruise and ballistic missiles. Despite having more advanced interceptors like the S-350, S-400, and Pantsir-S1 systems, Russia continues to rely on S-300s for its defenses.

In 2025, Ukraine’s intelligence services reported that Russia had over 400 interceptors available for S-300PM and S-400 air defense systems. However, recent reports indicate a reduction in Russia’s stockpile of S-300 missiles. Ukrainian officials told CBS News that Russia has repurposed some S-300s to launch offensive strikes on Ukraine, using them as surface-to-surface missiles.

Ukraine has also depleted Russia’s stocks by forcing it to intercept newer, more capable drones. This has led Russia to expend interceptors it might have reserved for defending against Ukrainian missile attacks.

Analysts suggest that Ukraine has been targeting Russia’s air defenses in occupied areas like Crimea and Dniester to exacerbate the shortages. Rob Lee, a Russian military expert at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, noted that Ukraine can produce more deep strike drones than Russia can produce air defense missiles.

Replenishing stocks may prove challenging for Russia due to difficulties obtaining key components from Western and Chinese manufacturers under sanctions. Ukrainian officials told CBS News that Moscow lacks guidance seekers and control modules needed to build interceptor missiles.

Despite these shortages, Russia still has other capable air defense systems like the more modern ones prioritized by Moscow to counter Ukrainian drone attacks. Ukraine itself faces its own air defense challenges, including a shortage of American PAC-3 interceptors, which are crucial for defending against Russian ballistic missiles.

As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with G7 leaders in France this week, drones launched from Ukraine struck an oil refinery deep inside Russia, demonstrating the reach of Ukraine’s long-range capabilities.