Russian missiles miss target: Patriot systems shield Kyiv
The Russian search for Patriot systems utilised by Ukraine continues unceasingly. Photographs from Google Maps, shared on the X platform, evidence this. According to experts in open-source intelligence, these images depict a Patriot missile launcher at Zhuliany International Airport in Kyiv, with a crater formed by a Russian missile strike located just 50 metres from it.
The image illustrating the Russian "miss" is said to be from the end of September 2023, but experts in open-source intelligence only recently noticed it. It reveals that the Russian missile did not strike the intended target, the Ukrainian Patriot system launcher. The only consequence was a significant crater approximately 50 metres from the weapon. It is likely that the launcher itself was not damaged in any way, as it was shielded from potential fragment impacts by embankments constructed around it.
Patriot systems in Ukraine
The Patriot systems have been operational in Ukraine since April 2023. Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States provided these solutions. This modern American surface-to-air missile system has repeatedly demonstrated its effectiveness, especially in countering threats from long-range missiles and rockets that Russia persistently launches at Ukrainian territory. The primary function of the Patriot system is to detect, intercept, and destroy incoming missiles, projectiles, aircraft, and loitering munitions before they reach their intended target.
Depending on the type of anti-aircraft missiles deployed, the Patriot system can neutralise targets up to 160 kilometres from the launch site. For instance, the PAC-3 version, equipped with hit-to-kill ERINT technology, uses kinetic energy to destroy targets and can intercept modern ballistic missiles within a range of up to 35 kilometres. This solution prevents destruction directly over populated areas, minimising risks associated with the falling debris of intercepted missiles.
Each system battery provided to Ukraine, including the latest PAC-3+ with significantly enhanced capabilities, constitutes an essential defensive element. These systems can shoot down the aforementioned ballistic missiles and guided glide bombs, making them incredibly valuable in the context of defence against the adversary's technological superiority. Ukrainian defence, bolstered by the Patriot systems, has neutralised Russian Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, which were previously considered nearly indestructible. Such successes highlight the importance of modern defensive technologies in thwarting Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities.
