Ukraine Running Out Of Anti-Aircraft Missiles

FILE PHOTO. A Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile system pictured near Slovyansk, Donetsk People's Republic, on May 11, 2022. © AFP / Yasuyoshi Chiba 

Washington Post: Ukraine improvises with aging air defenses to counter Russian missiles 

KYIV, Ukraine — Dmytro Shumskyi stood in the middle of the field in northern Ukraine with the Stinger air defense missile perched on his shoulder. “It’s coming!” his comrades yelled from behind him. Through the clear-blue sky, a small black streak flew past, followed by a loud whoosh — part of a barrage of missiles earlier this month that Russia said was retaliation for an attack on the Crimean Bridge. 

Shumskyi waited for the telltale crack and squeal of the Stinger and then launched his missile at the Russian one now in the distance. Behind him, his fellow Ukrainian soldiers yelled profanities, willing the enemy’s weapon to fall. 

Something flashed on the horizon, followed by a cloud of smoke from the explosion — success on a nearly impossible shot. Stingers are short-range missiles typically used against lower, slow-moving targets such as helicopters. Shumskyi took out two missiles with them. He was quickly heralded as a hero, having probably saved civilian lives that day.  

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Update: Ukraine running out of anti-aircraft missiles – WaPo (RT) 

WNU Editor: It is going to take a long time before Ukraine gets the air defenses it needs .... How quickly will Ukraine get the advanced air defenses it needs? (ABC News).