Ukraine claimed that it shot down all 18 missiles and drones, including six Kinzhal hypersonic missiles launched by the Russian military early in the morning of the 16th (local time). Russia, on the other hand, claimed to have destroyed the Patriot air defense system in Kiiu.
According to foreign media such as CNN, BBC, and The Guardian, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that Ukraine did not launch as many Kinzhal missiles as it claims to have shot down.
However, if Ukraine’s claim is true, the Patriot air defense system has succeeded in shooting down Kinzhal missiles one after another following the 4th.
Russia claims that the hypersonic Kinzhal missile, which flies at 11,000 km/h, cannot be shot down by any air defense system in the world.
Video released on social media shows air defense systems shooting down a missile over Kiiwu.
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valery Zaluznyi, said the air defense system had shot down all 18 Russian missiles and drones.
“In addition to six Kinzhal missiles, nine Kalibr cruise missiles were launched from the Black Sea Fleet, and three missiles were also launched from the ground,” he said.
Vitaly Klitschko, mayor of Chiuu, said rocket fragments landed in the central district, including the city zoo, but no one was injured.
A citizen of Kiiwu, who appeared on the BBC Radio 4 program, said, “I heard explosions one after another in the sky above the building.”
“I am relieved that the strong air defense system is in operation,” he said.
CNN reported, citing a US official, that the US-backed Patriot air defense system was damaged by a Russian missile strike, but did not appear to have been destroyed.
According to him, the US is investigating the extent of the damage, and depending on the results, it will decide whether to repair it on the spot or transfer it to the rear.
Ukraine currently has two Patriot air defense systems. One was provided by the United States and the other by a joint venture between Germany and the Netherlands. It is not known which Patriot systems were damaged in the Russian attack.
The United States believes that the Russian military has the ability to detect signals emitted by the Patriot and attack with hypersonic missiles. In addition, since the Patriot is large and cannot be easily moved, once its location is exposed, it will come under intensive attack by the Russian army.
According to TASS news agency, Russian Ministry of Defense spokesman Igor Konashenko said, “The Kinzhal hypersonic missile hit the U.S.-made Patriot air defense system in Kiiu with precision.”
The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed that it “used long-range precision weapons to strike military targets, including positions of Ukrainian forces and stores of munitions, weapons and military equipment received from Western countries.”
Unconfirmed video circulating on social media shows Patriot batteries deployed in Kiiu firing multiple shots at Russian missiles, followed by a large explosion in the area a few seconds later, according to Russian media RT.
Russia’s attack on this day is the eighth this month. Ukraine, which is about to launch a so-called ‘spring counterattack’, is also fighting without concessions on both sides, such as recapturing some of the eastern battleground Bahmut.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.