US confrontation with Iran depletes Ukraine’s missile defense, strengthening Russia’s position in the conflict.
Russia Benefits from US-Iran Conflict
The Wall Street Journal evaluates that Russia is one of the biggest beneficiaries of the US military confrontation with Iran. The conflict is depleting missile defense stocks that Ukraine urgently needs for defense against Russian attacks.
Ukraine’s Missile Defense Depleted
According to the Wall Street Journal, before the Iranian operation, Ukraine’s missile defense reserves were already at exhaustion, with European allies waiting for deliveries for years. These gaps in Ukrainian defense have allowed Russia to destroy energy infrastructure and plunge Ukrainian cities into darkness.
Production Shortfalls
Lockheed Martin’s annual production of the most advanced Patriot PAC-3 missiles in 2025 was just over 600 pieces. Kyiv estimates it needs at least 60 PAC-3 missiles monthly to respond to Russian attacks. In contrast, Russia produces about 80 ballistic missiles monthly.
Western Strategic Mistake
European and Ukrainian diplomats cited by the newspaper suggest these shortages could also threaten peace talks, as Western security guarantees for Ukraine include strengthening its air defense. “The West made a strategic mistake by not expanding production capabilities earlier,” stated Nico Lange, a former high-ranking official at the German Ministry of Defense.
Adversaries Monitoring Missile Consumption
According to intelligence and defense officials cited by the Wall Street Journal, US and NATO opponents, including China, Russia, and Iran, are closely monitoring the consumption of interceptor missiles. Their military doctrines increasingly emphasize mass production of cheap drones and ballistic missiles to surpass Western capabilities.
Future Production Plans
Lockheed Martin plans to increase annual production to 2,000 interceptor missiles, but only by the end of 2030. European producer MBDA is starting joint production with Raytheon in Bavaria, and NATO countries have ordered 1,000 missiles with delivery starting next year.
