Patriot’s new challenge: Ukrainian Air Force head explains Russia’s latest ballistic missile upgrades
Photo: Head of the Communications Department of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Yurii Ihnat (suspilne media)
Russia has upgraded its ballistic missiles used to attack Ukraine, making it more difficult for Patriot air defense systems — which are capable of intercepting such missiles — to operate effectively, according to Yurii Ihnat, head of the communications department of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, during a national telethon broadcast.
"We and our partners have information that the enemy has specifically upgraded the Iskander-M missiles, which follow a ballistic trajectory. These upgrades include the deployment of radar decoys, which each missile can release while approaching the target," the spokesperson said.
Ihnat explained that following the modernization, the Patriot systems, which are capable of intercepting ballistic targets, may not perform as effectively.
"The other factor is the flight of a ballistic missile along a quasi-ballistic trajectory, where the missile doesn’t fly straight but performs maneuvers mid-air. For the Patriot system, which is designed to intercept ballistic missiles by calculating the interception point, it becomes much harder to predict that point," he added.
According to Ihnat, these factors complicate the interception of ballistic missiles and the operation of air defense systems — but do not make it impossible.
"I believe our partners are working to improve the system’s capabilities to address these new challenges," the spokesperson noted.
Ballistic and drone strike on Kyiv
On the night of May 24, Russia launched one of its most massive attacks on Kyiv, simultaneously using ballistic missiles and drones.
The enemy fired 14 Iskander-M/KN-23 missiles and launched 250 attack drones across Ukraine. Air defenses intercepted six missiles and neutralized 245 drones. According to Ihnat, the Russians launched nine ballistic missiles at Kyiv.
Debris from the aerial targets fell in six districts of the capital. The most significant damage was recorded in the Solomianskyi, Sviatoshynskyi, and Obolonskyi districts. As of the morning, at least 15 people were reported injured.
In Obolonskyi district, a residential high-rise and a shopping center were damaged.
More details on the consequences of the overnight attack can be found in the RBC-Ukraine report.
