No damage to Patriot battery in Russian missile attack on Kyiv, says military expert

“I have information that indicates that it (Patriot system) is not damaged,” he said.

“All six Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles were shot down, while the Patriot missile defense system was not damaged. The enemy will make efforts to destroy it, to break through the capital city’s air defense, which along with this air defense system has acquired quite significant capabilities….And we see that efforts are being made for this, in particular, obviously, intelligence efforts to locate its whereabouts.”

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Popovych explained what the Russians had attempted to achieve with their attacks on the Patriot system.

“Of course, to show off and even the score in this Patriot-Kinzhal match, which so far is not in favor of the Kinzhal, i.e. it’s currently getting swept,” the expert said.

“And this is what the publicity and media stunts are needed for. Until now, we've thought that the Kinzhal is a weapon that is impossible to shoot down, that it is a Wunderwaffe ('superweapons' in German -ed.). And this myth has been busted.”

Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed in a Telegram messenger post that a Patriot air defense system had been destroyed in Kyiv in a “high-precision strike by the Kinzhal hypersonic missile system.”

In turn, U.S. television channel CNN reported that the Patriot missile defense system had likely been damaged, but not destroyed.

White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said on May 16 that Washington could not confirm reports that the Patriot missile defense system was damaged in Ukraine.

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Meanwhile, Ukrainian air force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat claimed that it was impossible to destroy a Patriot system with a Kinzhal missile.

The Reuters news agency reported on May 16 that the Patriot missile defense system being used by Ukraine had likely suffered some damage from a Russian strike. However, Washington and Kyiv are already in talks about the best way to repair the system and at this point it does not appear the system will have to be removed from Ukraine.

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