MOSCOW: Russia said on Thursday that its forces had struck two US-made Patriot air defence system launchers in Ukraine, marking a significant hit to Ukraine’s Western-supplied defence capabilities.
Ukraine is reliant on Western air defence systems, particularly the Patriots, to protect itself from the Russian missiles and has been calling for more deliveries. The attack is part of an ongoing campaign by Russia to target Ukraine’s air defence infrastructure.
The Russian defence ministry detailed that the strike targeted “two Patriot launcher stations made in the US,” along with a control station and a radar set, both integral components of the advanced Patriot system. The missile attack reportedly also hit Ukrainian troops gathered at the site and destroyed other military equipment.
A Patriot battery consists of multiple components, including a manned control station, a radar system for detecting incoming threats, and launcher stations that transport and fire defensive missiles.
The Russian ministry had earlier reported on Wednesday evening that an Iskander missile strike hit a division operating Patriot systems in Ukraine’s central Dnipropetrovsk region.
According to Moscow, one Patriot launcher was “destroyed,” and another “damaged” during the attack. The ministry also released aerial footage showing explosions in fields.
Ukraine, which received its first Patriot systems in April 2023, has heavily relied on these and other Western air defence systems to shield itself from Russian missile and drone attacks.
Kyiv has consistently called for more deliveries of Patriots, as they remain a vital part of its air defence strategy. However, Ukrainian officials have not publicly confirmed any damage to the Patriot systems following the recent Russian strikes.
Russia has previously claimed to have destroyed two Patriot launchers in July this year.
