Since May 2024, Ukraine’s air force has claimed that American Patriot systems have intercepted every Russian Kinzhal missile. With this weapon system, ardently requested by President Zelensky, the country has increasingly managed to thwart Russian bombardments. Their effectiveness is likely to increase Ukraine’s desire for more of these highly coveted anti-ballistic systems.
In an interview with Ukrinform, the national news agency, Air Force Colonel Serhii Yaremenk stated, “All the Kinzhals launched at the Ukrainian capital since the announcement of the Patriot air defense system being put into service have been successfully intercepted.” He added, “Since the beginning of May 2023, no ballistic missile has reached its target in our country’s capital. More than 20 Kinzhals were launched at Kyiv, and all were successfully intercepted.”
Kinzhal missiles, translating to “dagger” in Russian, were considered a significant asset for the Russian military in its bombardments of Ukrainian cities. However, they have not lived up to their promises in Ukraine thanks to the Patriot systems acquired by Zelensky. The MIM-104 Patriot, manufactured in the U.S. by defense contractor Raytheon, is considered one of the most advanced air-defense systems in the world. Ukraine currently possesses at least two of these systems, one donated by the U.S. in May and the other provided in partnership by Germany and the Netherlands.
The Kinzhal missile, also known as the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal, is a Russian air-launched hypersonic ballistic missile. It was developed by Russia and unveiled to the public in 2018 by President Vladimir Putin. This missile was designed to be launched from fighter jets, notably the MiG-31K, giving it significant range and impressive speed. The Kinzhal entered operational service the same year and was presented as a major advancement in Russian military capabilities.