The United States has rejected claims that it deliberately weakened Ukraine’s air defenses. President Volodymyr Zelenskyj has argued that a clear pattern is visible in the country’s reduced defensive coverage. Experts have backed his interpretation, according to the report. Russia has taken advantage of the resulting openings, striking when Ukraine appears most vulnerable. Russia has also sent thousands of drones toward Ukraine as part of the renewed attacks. The dispute centers on whether gaps in air defense reflect practical shortages or a deliberate US decision to withhold support. Moscow’s response has made the military consequences of that disagreement more urgent.