Ukraine's air force has stopped publishing official statistics on intercepted Russian missiles in an effort to avoid spreading public panic, according to a German television correspondent reporting from Kyiv.
Welt news correspondent Ibrahim Nabar reported from the Ukrainian capital that military leadership decided to conceal the daily interception figures because the data appears catastrophic. He explained that military authorities took the step to restrict public access to detailed records regarding defensive operations against incoming air strikes.
Nabar said that hiding the numbers has left many Ukrainians feeling bewildered and increasingly alarmed, especially concerning attacks carried out by the fastest Russian missiles. He added that citizens are already worn down by constant uncertainty and heavy wartime pressure, causing growing numbers of people to question why the authorities chose to withhold the information.
Official policy on air defense reporting
The correspondent noted that his observations align with prior statements from Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat. Ihnat previously stated that military updates would no longer include statistics detailing the number of missiles shot down or missed by Ukrainian air defence systems during enemy barrages.
Ukraine has depended heavily on its ground-based air defence network to shield major cities, industrial hubs, and power grids since Russian forces launched their full-scale invasion in February 2022. Throughout the war, regular updates published by the Ukrainian military served as a key indicator for citizens tracking air raid threats and evaluating the protection of local airspace. Welt is a major German news television channel and digital media outlet based in Berlin that provides continuous coverage of global security affairs and the ongoing war in Eastern Europe.
The decision to alter public reporting highlights the challenge military leaders face in balancing operational secrecy with public morale during wartime. As Russian missile strikes continue to target locations across Ukraine, debate remains active among residents seeking reliable information about national air defences.
