Most ballistic missiles fired at Kyiv get through as Berlin withholds Patriots

According to a Reuters report published by the Moscow Times, several ballistic missiles hit the North Bridge over the Dnipro; Mayor Klitschko confirmed the damage. The Energy Ministry said the attack struck facilities carrying power from 2 nuclear plants to Kyiv and the central regions. The Kyiv Independent wrote that the link covers the Rivne and Khmelnytskyi plants. Zelensky said substations were also damaged in 5 more regions; air defences downed 149 of 172 drones.

The Kyiv Independent, citing the Berliner Morgenpost, reported that Pistorius said any system handed over now could not be replaced for some time, and urged other countries to step up their air defence contributions. The issue will be discussed at the Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting in mid-November. Zelensky asked in Berlin on 4 November for faster delivery of PAC-2 missiles; Ukraine has a large two-year contract, but deliveries are too slow. The number of systems and missiles Berlin has supplied so far has not been disclosed and could not be verified.

The constraint is the interceptor stockpile. Four interceptions out of 36 ballistic missiles is a rate of about 11%, and it shows the most critical targets ahead of winter, bridges and nuclear plant links, left exposed. The attack came days before the first US–Russia–Ukraine talks since February, according to the Moscow Times; the Abu Dhabi round is on 10–11 November. Kyiv has a population of more than 3 million, and temperatures are nearing freezing.