According to two U.S. officials on Tuesday, a Patriot missile defense system supplied by the U.S. and used by Ukraine appears to have suffered some damage from a Russian strike, but it is unlikely to have been destroyed.
The Patriot system is part of a range of advanced air defense units provided by Western countries to assist Ukraine in defending against Russian air strikes targeting critical infrastructure and power facilities. One U.S. official, speaking anonymously, mentioned that discussions between Washington and Kyiv are already underway to determine the best approach for repairing the system. At this stage, it does not seem necessary to remove the system from Ukraine.
The official also noted that the United States expects to gain a clearer understanding of the situation in the coming days, as information may evolve over time.
The Patriot system is renowned for its advanced capabilities in countering aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. It typically consists of launchers, radar systems, and support vehicles. In response, Russia’s defense ministry claimed to have destroyed a U.S.-built Patriot surface-to-air missile defense system using a “hypersonic” Kinzhal missile in an overnight attack on Ukraine.
Ukraine stated that it had successfully intercepted 18 Russian missiles overnight, including a volley of six Kinzhals. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu dismissed the Ukrainian claim, as reported by the RIA news agency. The specific Western weapon used by Ukraine remains unclear, and the Pentagon has not provided an immediate comment on the matter.