Why Patriot systems failed to intercept all Iskander missiles over Kyiv: Expert's opinion
Illustrative photo: An expert explains why Patriot did not shoot down all Iskanders in Kyiv (t.me/DSNS_Kharkiv)
Kyiv and the surrounding region came under attack from Iskander-M ballistic missiles on the morning of April 6. Air defense systems were activated but failed to intercept all of the incoming rockets, according to aviation expert Kostiantyn Kryvolap, who shared his assessment in an interview with RBC-Ukraine’s YouTube channel.
“As for the number of intercepted Iskanders — two of them couldn’t be shot down at all. They didn’t actually reach Kyiv. Only Kyiv is more or less protected. And three Iskanders made it through," Kryvolap said
In his opinion, this was likely due to the positioning and operation of the Patriot air defense systems. He emphasized the importance of understanding the flight paths of the incoming missiles. Even if the trajectory was ballistic, there were still technical nuances that mattered.
“Maybe because of those nuances, the system worked that way. But the fact that the Patriot system was working, and that the missiles were there — we saw it, we heard it,” the expert added.
He believes more missiles were intercepted over Kyiv because the ballistic trajectories were aimed at areas covered by the Patriot system. However, this system operates in a “semi-sphere” mode, with a coverage radius of about 30 kilometers. It cannot defend in all 360 degrees. That’s why three systems are typically used to cover an entire city.
Kryvolap believes the number of Iskanders intercepted likely came down to that factor. "I can’t come up with any other explanation," he said. He also did not rule out the possibility that some launchers were diverted from Kyiv to target other locations.
Attack on Kyiv, April 6
Early Sunday morning, April 6, the Russian military launched a wave of drone and missile strikes across Ukraine. One of the main targets was Kyiv, which came under fire from ballistic missiles.
During the strike, one person was killed in Kyiv, and three others were injured.
For more details on the aftermath of the attack, read RBC-Ukraine's report.
