In a first setback to U.S. efforts to bolster Ukrainian air defenses, it was recently reported that an air defense system was hit by a Russian missile.
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that a "Kinzhal" missile struck five launch platforms and a radar unit of the U.S. "Patriot" air defense system in Kyiv on May 16, leading to their complete destruction. It stated, "According to confirmed and reliable data, as a result of the airstrike with the hypersonic 'Kinzhal' missile in the city of Kyiv, the following were completely hit and destroyed: a multifunctional radar station of the system and five U.S.-made 'Patriot' missile launch platforms," according to the Russian news agency "TASS."
This comes after an American official confirmed on Wednesday that one of the "Patriot" air defense systems supplied to Ukraine sustained damage but is still operational. The official stated, "The Patriot system is still functioning," and the extent of the damage caused by an unspecified projectile landing nearby is still being assessed. Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuri Ignat remarked that "there is no concern, everything is fine with the Patriot system," adding that "the Patriot system is in service and operational and everything is going well."
It is noted that Ukraine announced in mid-April that it received its first U.S. Patriot air defense systems, a promise made by President Joe Biden to his counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky during the Ukrainian president's visit to Washington in December.
High-Precision Strike
The Russian military confirmed that it destroyed the Patriot system following a "high-precision strike" with a "hypersonic Kinzhal missile." Meanwhile, Kyiv claimed to have shot down six Kinzhal missiles, which was denied by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
It is worth mentioning that Kinzhal missiles are a type of weapon that Russian President Vladimir Putin describes as "invincible" because their hypersonic speed allows them to evade interception by most air defense systems. Ukraine has repeatedly requested the provision of Patriot missile systems to help protect itself from Russian strikes.
