“What Ukraine needs right now”: Poland to provide Ukraine with scarce F-16 missiles to shoot down jet-powered drones

Poland announced it would deliver a vital aid package to Ukraine, as reported by Polskie Radio by Deputy Minister of National Defense Stanisław Wziątek. The aid, essential for Ukraine's ongoing conflict, will include scarce F-16 missile ammunition, which the Ukrainian military desperately needs to shoot down Russian drones. Ukraine currently faces a severe shortage of these missiles, as pilots have been forced to operate without them, relying solely on their built-in M61A1 Vulcan cannon, which poses significant risks to civilians.

Poland's recent promise of this aid comes as a timely relief, potentially amounting to approximately €50 million. The aid package is being prepared and will encompass not only these crucial missiles but also other aviation equipment. While the exact contents remain undisclosed, Wziątek confirmed it is precisely what Ukraine requires at this critical juncture.

This aid follows the abrupt suspension of arms supplies from the United States in July 2025, which affected over 90 US-made AIM air-to-air missiles that were en route to Ukraine. Since then, Ukraine has received Western aid for air defense systems, but the shortage of missiles has persisted. Ukraine had gone without F-16 missiles for nearly a month in late November to mid-December, a situation worsened by the dual use of F-16s and Soviet-made MiG-29s, both requiring separate missile supplies.