Ukrainian US Patriot systems shot down all Russian Dagger missiles

The Ukrainian air force says U.S. Patriot systems have intercepted all Russian dagger-type missiles since May.

With the help of cutting-edge defenses that Zelensky has long sought, the country has increasingly managed to thwart Russian bombings, and their effectiveness is likely to further whet Ukraine’s appetite for more of the highly coveted anti-ballistic missile systems.

In an interview with Ukrinform, the country’s state news agency, Air Force Colonel Serhiy Yaremenko said: “All Kinzhals that were fired at the Ukrainian capital since the announcement that the Patriot air defense system was put into combat service were successfully intercepted.”

“Since the beginning of May 2023, not a single ballistic missile (missile) has reached its target in the capital of our country. More than 20 Kinzhals have been launched in Kiev and all of them have been successfully intercepted,” he added.

Kinzhal missiles, which mean “dagger” in Russian, were once touted as a breakthrough solution for the Russian military in bombing Ukrainian cities.

However, they did not keep the promises made in Ukraine because of the Patriot systems that Zelensky acquired.

The MIM-104 Patriot system is manufactured in the United States by arms company Raytheon and is considered one of the most advanced air defense systems in the world.

Ukraine currently possesses at least two such systems, one donated in May by the United States and the other supplied in cooperation with Germany and the Netherlands.

Zelensky has consistently lobbied for more high-tech anti-ballistic weapons to be sent to Ukraine, which he says are necessary to counter the 3,000 missiles Russia fires at the country each month.

“Ukraine needs seven systems – this is the absolute minimum,” the president said in an April speech.

This was a reduction from earlier demands for 25 Patriot systems, which Zelensky said were necessary for “complete coverage of Ukraine.”

In April, Germany pledged to send another Patriot to Ukraine, and Biden followed suit, approving the deployment of a second system in June.

In late June, Romania also promised to send Patriot systems to Ukraine, although Bucharest’s donation came with the stipulation that the United States would have to make up the difference.

“This donation is made on the condition that our country continues negotiations with allies, especially with the American strategic partner, to obtain a similar or equivalent system… At the same time, it is necessary to find a temporary solution to cover the operational vulnerability created in this way,” reads the announcement on the website of President Klaus Lohannis.

On Wednesday, the Defense Department announced a $2.2 billion aid package to modernize Ukraine’s air defenses, including additional surface-to-air missiles to the country’s existing Patriot systems.

Given its success in curbing Russian bombing, it is no surprise that Ukraine so desperately needs Patriot aircraft to help protect its skies.

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