The US is warning allies of potential multi-year delays in the delivery of certain types of missiles due to the need to replenish its own stockpiles. At the same time, Washington is working to locate available Patriot interceptors for Ukraine and has approved a potential $2.68 billion sale of air defense equipment to Kyiv. Amidst these arms supply challenges, Ukraine launched a massive drone attack on Moscow, while US intelligence reported a new Russian influence campaign ahead of the US elections.
Ukraine Launches Largest Drone Attack on Moscow During Parliamentary Elections
On Sunday, Ukraine launched a massive drone attack on Moscow and the Moscow region—an assault the city's mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, described as the largest of the war. According to Sobyanin, the strikes killed two people in the Moscow region and damaged a facility at the Moscow Oil Refinery, which had previously been targeted. Two other people were killed in the Russian-controlled part of the Kherson region, including an election commission worker. Sobyanin stated, "The largest attack by enemy drones has been repelled."
The attack took place on the final day of the three-day parliamentary elections in Russia—the first such vote since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Sobyanin claimed the strike was intended to disrupt the elections, though he noted that this did not happen. Russian election authorities also reported cyberattacks on Moscow's online voting system, while voter turnout had exceeded 50% by the start of the day. Most anti-war candidates were barred from the election, while sanctioned "systemic" opposition parties—such as the Communists and "New People"—could gain additional votes amidst economic hardships and growing anxiety over the war. Before the vote, Putin stated that the election should demonstrate support for the Russian military, saying:
"We certainly expect this to gain momentum. I don't think they’ll stop. I believe we are witnessing the start of a campaign focused on the U.S. elections."
US intelligence warns of a new Russian influence campaign ahead of the election
US intelligence agencies believe the Kremlin has launched a digital influence campaign on social media ahead of the November US elections. According to US officials cited by The New York Times, the campaign aims to exacerbate internal divisions among Americans. Experts on Russian disinformation have identified several campaigns utilizing artificial intelligence to create fake videos featuring Hollywood celebrities. These materials attributed statements to famous figures regarding competitive Senate races.
US officials note that the current campaign is smaller in scale and less coordinated than some of Russia's previous operations. At the same time, intelligence agencies believe Moscow’s primary goal is to sow chaos rather than support a specific political party, although materials identified in recent weeks have largely targeted Democratic candidates. In particular, edited videos were circulated on social media—designed to look like content from CNN, BBC, and The New York Times—alongside fake statements attributed to celebrities. One such video falsely depicted actress Jamie Lee Curtis criticizing the Democratic Party’s stance on transgender issues; her spokesperson, Heidi Schaeffer, stated that there was "not a shred of truth" to the clip. The research firm Graphika links the operation to networks known as "Operation Overload" or "Matryoshka"—which it assesses to be Kremlin-linked and reliant on bots to spread fabricated content. Graphika senior researcher Jean Le Roux stated:
«Ми, безумовно, очікуємо, що це набере обертів. Не думаю, що вони зупиняться. Гадаю, що ми спостерігаємо початок кампанії, зосередженої на виборах у США».
U.S. Warns Allies of Potential Years-Long Delays in Missile Deliveries
The U.S. has warned allies of potential delays—lasting up to five years—in the delivery of certain types of weaponry. According to Bloomberg, the reason is the need to replenish U.S. ammunition stocks following their use during the war with Iran. Several European countries are facing rescheduled delivery dates for missile systems and air defense assets. Among others, Germany has asked Washington to expedite the delivery of long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles and ground-based Typhon launchers; however, the manufacturer, Raytheon, is reportedly unlikely to fulfill this order within five years due to a missile shortage.
Delays have also affected certain Eastern European nations that utilize U.S. weapon systems. At the same time, the Pentagon is prioritizing the replenishment of its own stockpiles, complicating Ukraine's efforts to secure additional interceptor missiles for Patriot systems ahead of winter. According to Bloomberg, the U.S. expended more than half of its most advanced Patriot missiles, a third of its Tomahawk inventory, and nearly half of its precision-guided missiles and THAAD interceptors during the war with Iran. Meanwhile, U.S. defense companies are ramping up production capacity; notably, Lockheed Martin is working to increase annual production of PAC-3 MSE missiles from approximately 600 to 2,000 units. Previously, Donald Trump stated that the U.S. was discussing with Ukraine the possibility of providing a "significantly less advanced version" of the Patriot system or granting European countries licenses to manufacture the weapon.
US Approves $2.68 Billion Air Defense Equipment Sale to Ukraine
The US State Department has approved the potential sale of equipment to Ukraine for the development and modernization of its air defense capabilities, valued at approximately $2.68 billion. The list of weaponry and equipment released by the US agency includes missiles for S-300-type systems, GAM-67 missiles, extended-range laser-guided missile systems, and mobile launchers. Ukraine also requested modification kits for launchers and other equipment necessary for air defense system operations. The list further includes RPS-202 radars for counter-drone systems, trailers with telescopic masts, spare parts, software, transportation services, and engineering support.
Should the deal be finalized, Ukraine will fund the purchase using European contributions and US military financing funds allocated under the previous administration. The State Department noted that the US funds would be credited as the US contribution to the Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund. The agency stated that the transaction is intended to strengthen Ukraine's ability to counter current and future threats. Contractors to fulfill the order will be selected through a competitive process. Notably, the released list does not include Patriot systems or missiles for them.
US Working with Allies to Source Patriot Missiles for Ukraine
US Permanent Representative to NATO Matthew Whitaker said, that Washington is working with allies to locate available Patriot missiles for Ukraine. According to him, the effort involves both the potential transfer or sale of existing missiles and increasing production. Whitaker noted that the U.S. is actively utilizing the PURL initiative, which also supplies Ukraine with Patriot missiles. He also mentioned ongoing work regarding the potential for joint production of interceptors involving the U.S., Ukraine, and other NATO allies.
Whitaker linked the production increase to the need to expand defense capabilities in both the U.S. and Europe. "I am also working on joint production opportunities—both with the Ukrainians and with our NATO allies," the official noted. He added that Ukraine is working on developing its own capabilities and interceptors. According to Whitaker, allies are prepared to invest and conclude relevant agreements, but establishing the necessary production capacity takes time. "It’s not just a matter of chopping down a tree and shipping it," he said. Regarding the licensing of Patriot interceptor production in Ukraine, Whitaker stated:
"We are currently working through all the complex details concerning export licenses, the companies that hold the intellectual property rights, and exactly how this might look in practice."
Photo: Social media
Author: Danylo Pievchev