The British newspaper The Telegraph has accused Greece and Spain of refusing to transfer Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine, arguing that the weapons could help protect the country’s critical infrastructure from Russian attacks. However, the report does not cite an official Greek or Spanish rejection, while Athens is already deploying a Patriot battery to defend Saudi Arabia against incoming missile and drone threats.
Published on Friday, October 9, the article by diplomatic editor Joe Barnes was headlined “Spain and Greece Refuse to Give Up Patriots That Could Save Ukraine”.
The newspaper argues that both countries possess stocks of Patriot missiles approaching the end of their original service life and that these weapons could potentially be transferred to Kyiv.
It estimates Greece has at least 200 Patriot PAC-2 interceptor missiles nearing the end of their 23-year lifespan. Spain’s stockpile is not established in the report, although Madrid has previously indicated it would supply five interceptors to Ukraine.
According to The Telegraph, NATO and European Union officials have been attempting to persuade Athens and Madrid to release missiles before their stated expiry dates.
However, the article does not provide an official Greek or Spanish statement confirming a refusal. It says the newspaper sought comment from both defence ministries.
Greece is already defending Saudi Arabia with Patriot missiles
The report’s criticism comes as Greek military personnel are actively operating a Patriot air defence battery in Saudi Arabia, protecting critical infrastructure against ballistic missiles and drones.
The Hellenic Force in Saudi Arabia, known as ELDYSA, has maintained the deployment since 2021 under an international air and missile defence initiative. Its mission includes helping protect Saudi energy infrastructure around Yanbu, a strategically important industrial and oil refining hub on the Red Sea.
In March 2026, Greek-operated Patriot systems intercepted two Iranian ballistic missiles targeting energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, according to Greek defence authorities. Read the report by Greek Reporter.
The battery was involved in further interceptions during July. On July 25, Greek personnel intercepted two ballistic missiles launched from Yemen towards oil refineries in the Yanbu area, as well as a drone. Read the report by Kathimerini.
On September 24, Greece’s Patriot battery again engaged incoming threats, launching two interceptor missiles against a ballistic missile and an unmanned aerial vehicle, according to reporting on the Greek Defence Ministry’s announcement. Read the report by Ta Nea.
These deployments demonstrate that Greece’s Patriot systems are not simply stored equipment awaiting disposal. They are being used operationally, with Greek personnel responsible for responding to real threats.
The Saudi mission also raises a central question in the debate over Ukraine: whether Greece can surrender additional interceptor missiles while continuing its existing overseas commitment and maintaining sufficient ammunition for its own defence.
Athens faces its own air defence requirements
Greece operates six Patriot batteries through the Hellenic Air Force’s 350 Guided Missile Wing.
Its original 1999 procurement included 200 PAC-2 GEM missiles, delivered from 2002 onwards. The current number of serviceable missiles, their condition and their remaining operational life have not been publicly established in the Telegraph report.
Greece must also maintain air defence coverage across its territory and account for security challenges in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean.
The country’s overseas deployment adds another consideration. In August, Kathimerini reported that Athens was weighing whether to withdraw the Patriot battery from Saudi Arabia after approximately five years or extend the mission while reviewing the situation again in October.
The same report said Greek officials were maintaining commitments to replenish missiles used against ballistic missiles and unmanned aircraft, with the stated aim of ensuring national ammunition reserves were not depleted.
The future of the Saudi deployment therefore remains relevant to any discussion about transferring additional missiles to Ukraine.
Ukraine seeks hundreds of Patriot interceptors
Ukraine’s demand for air defence ammunition remains acute as it prepares for further Russian attacks against energy infrastructure during winter.
According to The Telegraph, Kyiv fears Russia could launch as many as 1,000 missiles, drones and bombs against substations, hydroelectric and thermal power plants, and infrastructure associated with the country’s three nuclear power plants.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine needs between 300 and 360 Patriot interceptors to withstand the anticipated campaign.
European foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas reportedly raised the issue at a September summit in Ireland, without publicly identifying the countries holding missiles nearing expiry.
“We know that some countries have interceptor missiles that will expire soon. It would be very good if they were given to Ukraine,” Kallas said, according to the newspaper.
A diplomatic source quoted by The Telegraph described the discussions as an effort to establish how officials could help Athens and Madrid make a decision.
The debate is unfolding amid wider pressure on global interceptor supplies, including demand generated by the conflict involving Iran and its regional adversaries.
Does an expiry date mean the missiles are unusable?
The Telegraph report places considerable emphasis on the approaching expiry dates of Greece’s missiles. However, the end of a missile’s original service life does not automatically mean it can no longer be used.
Fabian Hoffmann, a missile expert at the University of Oslo, told the newspaper that an expiry date marks the point beyond which the manufacturer no longer guarantees performance. Depending on their condition, missiles may be eligible for recertification following inspections, maintenance and replacement of components.
That distinction complicates the argument that Greece should transfer its missiles before they expire. Their remaining operational value, the cost of extending their service life and the availability of replacement ammunition would all need to be assessed.
For Athens, the decision is not simply whether older missiles could benefit Ukraine, but whether transferring them would compromise Greece’s own defensive requirements or its commitments abroad.
Pressure on Greece is not new
Pressure on Athens to contribute more air defence equipment to Ukraine predates the latest report.
In April 2024, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius publicly questioned why Greece and Spain had not supplied Patriot systems to Kyiv.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has previously argued that Greece cannot relinquish weapons systems critical to its deterrence capabilities.
The latest Telegraph article adds to that pressure, but its headline presents the situation as a refusal without establishing that either government has formally rejected a specific request.
Greece is already contributing to regional air defence through its deployment in Saudi Arabia, where its Patriot battery has engaged ballistic missiles and drones threatening critical infrastructure.
The question for Athens is whether it can provide additional support to Ukraine without weakening its own defences or undermining an existing operational commitment. With interceptor supplies under pressure internationally, any decision will involve balancing Ukraine’s urgent needs against Greece’s national security requirements.
