# Zelensky Says New Ukrainian Anti‑Ballistic System and Extra U.S. Patriots Are Key to Facing Winter War

*Sunday, September 6, 2026 at 6:06 PM UTC — Hamer Intelligence Services Desk*

**Published**: 2026-09-06T18:06:25.198Z (3h ago)
**Category**: conflict | **Region**: Eastern Europe
**Importance**: 8/10
**Sources**: OSINT
**Permalink**: https://hamerintel.com/data/articles/17076.md
**Source**: https://hamerintel.com/summaries

---

**Deck**: President Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine will soon deploy its own anti‑ballistic system and that the United States plans to increase Patriot missile production next year, as he warns the war will probably continue into winter and reiterates that Kyiv will not give up Donbas.

Ukraine is racing to strengthen its air defenses before another winter of Russian attacks, combining a push for domestic systems with continued reliance on U.S. technology. President Volodymyr Zelensky has said a Ukrainian anti‑ballistic system will be ready in the near future and that the American side plans to boost production of Patriot anti‑ballistic missiles next year.

Zelensky has also warned that the war is likely to continue into the winter months. He has said that Ukraine expects a package of winter support from the United States if the conflict does carry on, and that U.S. and Ukrainian teams have already discussed supplies of air‑defense missiles alongside broader winter aid.

On the battlefield, he has framed air defense as essential to Ukraine’s ability to negotiate from a position of strength. Zelensky has said that Ukraine’s position on Donbas remains unchanged, calling the issue of Donbas central to the entire war and to its outcome. In his view, without strong positions for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, including in the air‑defense domain, any talks risk turning into ultimatums directed at Kyiv.

To reduce its vulnerability, Ukraine is also drawing on local industry. Zelensky has said he met representatives of more than 60 companies involved in producing systems to shoot down explosive drones and that several of these firms have already shown concrete results. The development of a national anti‑ballistic system is meant to complement those efforts and reduce at least part of Ukraine’s dependence on foreign interceptors over time.

Zelensky has linked this defensive buildup to what he describes as a campaign of constant terror by Russia in recent days ahead of Russian elections, promising that Ukraine will respond. He has argued that over the past year Ukraine has grown stronger, with its forces giving diplomacy a chance by improving the country’s situation on the battlefield and in the air.

The scale and timing of additional U.S. Patriot missile production—and how many of those missiles reach Ukraine—will help determine how much protection key Ukrainian cities and infrastructure can expect during the next wave of Russian strikes. Even if large‑scale fighting ends, Zelensky has said Ukraine will still need such systems to deter future attacks.

The next signals to watch are any specific announcements on new Patriot batteries or missile deliveries to Ukraine, visible progress on deploying the Ukrainian anti‑ballistic system, the size and content of any U.S. winter support package, and any change in Russia’s strike tempo or mix of weapons as Ukraine’s defenses improve.