KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine's air force claimed Saturday to have downed a Russian hypersonic missile over Kyiv using newly acquired American Patriot defense systems, the first known time the country has been able to intercept one of Moscow's most modern missiles.

Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk said in a Telegram post that the Kinzhal-type ballistic missile had been intercepted in an overnight attack on the Ukrainian capital earlier in the week. It was also the first time Ukraine is known to have used the Patriot defense systems.

“Yes, we shot down the ‘unique’ Kinzhal,” Oleshchuk wrote. “It happened during the night-time attack on May 4 in the skies of the Kyiv region.”

Oleshchuk said the Kh-47 missile was launched by a MiG-31K aircraft from Russian territory and was shot down with a Patriot missile.

The Kinzhal is one of the latest and most advanced Russian weapons. The Russian military says the air-launched ballistic missile has a range of up to 2,000 kilometers (about 1,250 miles) and flies at 10 times the speed of sound, making it hard to intercept.

A combination of hypersonic speed and a heavy warhead allows the Kinzhal to destroy heavily fortified targets, like underground bunkers or mountain tunnels.

The Ukrainian military has previously admitted lacking assets to intercept the Kinzhals.

“They were saying that the Patriot is an outdated American weapon, and Russian weapons are the best in the world," Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said on Ukraine's Channel 24 television. "Well, there is confirmation that it effectively works against even a super-hypersonic missile.” Ihnat said.

He said successfully intercepting the Kinzhal was “a slap in the face for Russia.”

Ukraine took its first delivery of the Patriot missiles in late April. It has not specified how many of the systems it has or where they have been deployed, but they are known to have been provided by the United States, Germany and the Netherlands.

Germany and the U.S. have acknowledged each sending at least one battery and the Netherlands has said it has provided two launchers, although it is not clear how many are currently in operation.

Ukrainian troops have received the extensive training needed to be able to effectively locate a target with the systems, lock on with radar, and fire. Each battery requires up to 90 personnel to operate and maintain.

Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said he first asked for Patriot systems when visiting the U.S. in August 2021, months before Russia’s full-scale invasion but seven years after Russia illegally annexed Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula.

He has described possessing the system as “a dream” but said he was told in the U.S. at the time that it was impossible.

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yesterday's alleged drone attack on the Kremlin.
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The Patriot was first deployed by the U.S. in the 1980s. The system costs approximately $4 million per missile, and the launchers cost about $10 million each, according to analysts.

At such a cost, it was widely thought that Ukraine would only use the Patriots against Russian aircraft or hypersonic missiles.

In a Telegram post on Saturday, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, said he had thanked U.S. Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for the ongoing American aid to Ukraine.

Zaluzhnyi said he also briefed Milley “about the situation at the front and preparations” for Ukraine's counteroffensive against Russia.

Ukraine has not said when it might launch the counteroffensive, but it is widely anticipated this spring.

In an interview this week with Foreign Affairs magazine, Milley said he would not speculate on if or when it might come, but that with NATO assistance to help train and equip nine brigades' worth of combined arms, armor and mechanized infantry, “the Ukrainians right now have the capability to attack.”

He also said that their capability to defend was “significantly enhanced from what they were just a year ago.”

“I don’t want to suggest that they may or may not conduct an offensive operation in the coming weeks,” he said. “That’ll be up to them. They’ve got a significant amount of planning and coordination and all of that to do, if they were to do an offensive operation. But they’re prepared to do offense or defense.”

In other developments, officials in both Russia and Ukraine said they had carried out another of their regular exchanges of prisoners of war.

The Russian Defense Ministry said it brought three military pilots back to Russia, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said 45 fighters who defended the Azovstal steel mill in Mariupol had been returned to Ukraine.

Also on Saturday, Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces accused Russia of using phosphorus munitions in its attempt to wrest control of the eastern city of Bakhmut from Ukrainian forces.

Russian troops have been trying to take the city for more than nine months, but Ukrainian forces are still clinging to positions on the western outskirts.

On Saturday, the Ukrainska Pravda newspaper quoted military officials as saying that “the enemy used phosphorus and incendiary ammunition in Bakhmut in an attempt to wipe the city off the face of the earth.”

A photo accompanying the newspaper report showed an urban area lit up with fire in multiple places.

The allegations could not be independently verified.

Russian forces have not commented on the claim but have rejected previous accusations from Ukraine that they had used phosphorus.

International law prohibits the use of white phosphorus or other incendiary weapons — munitions designed to set fire to objects or cause burn injuries — in areas where there could be concentrations of civilians.

White phosphorous can also be used for illumination or to create smoke screens.

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/ukraine-downs-russian-hypersonic-missile-with-us-patriot/ar-AA1aOG80?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=1b23b1995e4344ee8a8c5082dff264ac&ei=42

No defense system can intercept a hypersonic missile.

Armaggedon:
No defense system can intercept a hypersonic missile.

but you just saw it happened

Armaggedon:
No defense system can intercept a hypersonic missile.

That's what the US wants you to believe! I always suspected they had a answer to that hypersonic thing Russia and China were trying to use to scare everyone else!

Why peddle fake news.. no defense system is capable of stopping a hypersonic missile. The Patriot AD is even inferior to the S300.
Na wa for una o.
No common sense.

Saao:
but you just saw it happened

Nothing like that happened. Too much fake news, whatdo you even know about military gadgets and warfare.
You give just see news carry post for nairaland.
We have told you guys, whenever you see a news on MSM, you should take it with a pinch of salt or make research.

Kingpin1000:

Nothing like that happened. Too much fake news, whatdo you even know about military gadgets and warfare.
You give just see news carry post for nairaland.
We have told you guys, whenever you see a news on MSM, you should take it with a pinch of salt or make research.

well done, General in Nigeria military that knows so much.

PROUDIGBO:


That's what the US wants you to believe! I always suspected they had a answer to that hypersonic thing Russia and China were trying to use to scare everyone else!

Patriot AD is not a reliable. Percentage hit is very poor. Not taking into consideration the fact that the said missile was Khinzal a hypersonic missile.
You so called US has not been able to successfully make and test a hypersonic missile, something Iran made successful this year.
The smart guys in the west died a long time ago.
Tesla was the last genus America had but He wasn't even American.
America today is dealing with people confused about their gender, while the rest of the world is advancing in technology.
Don't ever believe what they tell you about their perceived enemies Iran, even North Korea that people laugh at are more advanced in military than many western nations.

Saao:
well done, General in Nigeria military that knows so much.

Thanks for the compliment.

Saao:
well done, General in Nigeria military that knows so much.

Ukrainian Air Force denies reports Kinzhal hypersonic ballistic missile downed over Kyiv

https://www.yahoo.com/news/ukrainian-air-force-denies-reports-132000149.html

It's a big lie. Ukraine has denied it sef. How can you use a patriot defence system built to intercept supersonic missile to intercept hypersonic missile. Buhahahaha

You intercept a hypersonic missile yet the warhead did not explode but only punched a hole into it. Buhahaha. Look at the hypersonic missile Ukraine intercepted an hypersonic missile made of wood/fibre. 🤣🤣

Make una dey use una head o

Kingpin1000:

Patriot AD is not a reliable. Percentage hit is very poor. Not taking into consideration the fact that the said missile was Khinzal a hypersonic missile.
You so called US has not been able to successfully make and test a hypersonic missile, something Iran made successful this year.
The smart guys in the west died a long time ago.
Tesla was the last genus America had but He wasn't even American.
America today is dealing with people confused about their gender, while the rest of the world is advancing in technology.
Don't ever believe what they tell you about their perceived enemies Iran, even North Korea that people laugh at are more advanced in military than many western nations.

what is left of America are either gay , lesz , binary or transgender

Watcharena:
what is left of America are either gay , lesz , binary or transgender

like say if them give u visa u no go jakpa

Lol all this western media just trying to paint se unna dey win, with all the fake news wey unna don publish with the help of nato why Ukraine never win the fight cause no be war for real life.. cause if Russia actually wan follow unna go war unna no go last 2weeks

Saao:
but you just saw it happened

saw what? Are you now seeing on my behalf?

Y'all are just caught up in the media wars... I just dey laugh.
Let's hope we see the end of this war and get to know the truth behind all the propagandas.

Saao:
but you just saw it happened

Why are you hyperventilating under the delusions of western propaganda?

fuckingAyaya:
like say if them give u visa u no go jakpa

jakpa this,jakpa that....
as if their you are jakparin to no have issues too....

sotey una are cryin from sudan....
happy jakparin,you fools....

lets see how long those western nations will tolerate every dreamer to jakpa to their place before they go hitler style on una....

Armaggedon:
No defense system can intercept a hypersonic missile.

You have spoken like the manufactural of both the missles and defence systems

Saao:
but you just saw it happened

Don't mind him. They guy has comprehension issues.

Kingpin1000:
Why peddle fake news.. no defense system is capable of stopping a hypersonic missile. The Patriot AD is even inferior to the S300.
Na wa for una o.
No common sense.

And yet Russia have not come out to deny Ukraine claim, why?

Kingpin1000:

Nothing like that happened. Too much fake news, whatdo you even know about military gadgets and warfare.
You give just see news carry post for nairaland.
We have told you guys, whenever you see a news on MSM, you should take it with a pinch of salt or make research.

And I asked again, why have Russia keep mute without debunking Ukraine claims?

Toktee:
And I asked again, why have Russia keep mute without debunking Ukraine claims?

when lies about the ghost of Kiev was circulating did Russia make any comment about it

Kingpin1000:

Patriot AD is not a reliable. Percentage hit is very poor. Not taking into consideration the fact that the said missile was Khinzal a hypersonic missile.
You so called US has not been able to successfully make and test a hypersonic missile, something Iran made successful this year.
The smart guys in the west died a long time ago.
Tesla was the last genus America had but He wasn't even American.
America today is dealing with people confused about their gender, while the rest of the world is advancing in technology.
Don't ever believe what they tell you about their perceived enemies Iran, even North Korea that people laugh at are more advanced in military than many western nations.

Some of you mofos want America to start behaving like china, north Korea, Russia, etc... No bro America's arsenal is unknown to the outside world.
The question remains, why have the terrorist state of Russia remain silent on the downing of the missile?

Watcharena:
when lies about the ghost of Kiev was circulating did Russia make any comment about it

The ghost of Kiev had nothing to do with Russia...
Why are they silent?
It's people like you that wanted the entire universe to believe that Russia successfully eliminated all the 18 Himars supplied to Ukraine by the Russia army.
This news really hit una.

Toktee:
Some of you mofos want America to start behaving like china, north Korea, Russia, etc... No bro America's arsenal is unknown to the outside world.
The question remains, why have the terrorist state of Russia remain silent on the downing of the missile?

did Russian make any comment about lies of Ghost of Kiev ?


And again why did US request Turkey to give Russia's S400 Ad system to study if patriot is better .

Go and check from battle records s300 and s400 have the longest kill. Patriot is no where to be found on the list.

Russian hypersonic missiles can not be intercepted by any existing Ad system in the world

Toktee:
The ghost of Kiev had nothing to do with Russia...
Why are they silent?
It's people like you that wanted the entire universe to believe that Russia successfully eliminated all the 18 Himars supplied to Ukraine by the Russia army.
This news really hit una.

I don't even know how may himars they supplied Ukraine when those equipment enters the battlefield it was as if Ukraine has gotten final solution to every Russian problems but right now nobody hear anything about them again.Javelin too we are not hearing anything about any more , stinger too has goon mute.


But ever since Iranian drones entered the battle field they are still active we still hear about them, The entire west has not provided to small Iranian drones, it is hypersonic missiles they want to take on. The same Patriot was protecting Saudu arabia when rebels were using Iranian drones to attack ARAMCO facilities. Is not by just putting too much price on military hardware that make them reliable .You think if not for fear of sanction anybody will leave RUSSIAN Air defense system to buy US own. I'm sure even US will want to place order.

The West is winning the media war, deep in the battlefield it is a different thing entirely

Toktee:
Some of you mofos want America to start behaving like china, north Korea, Russia, etc... No bro America's arsenal is unknown to the outside world.
The question remains, why have the terrorist state of Russia remain silent on the downing of the missile?

Even the Ukrainians have debunked your claim.

Toktee:
And yet Russia have not come out to deny Ukraine claim, why?

You are just fooling yourself. What missile?
Try to verify news before coming out to show your ignorance.

Toktee:
The ghost of Kiev had nothing to do with Russia...
Why are they silent?
It's people like you that wanted the entire universe to believe that Russia successfully eliminated all the 18 Himars supplied to Ukraine by the Russia army.
This news really hit una.

You are really ignorant.
Just imagine your level of folly.
The Ukrainians came out and said, they did not shoot down any hypersonic missile, but you wey dey one corner of your room dey browse nairaland on free mode dey talk say Ukraine down Khinzal

Fake news, even Ukraine denied this news.

Kingpin1000:

You are really ignorant.
Just imagine your level of folly.
The Ukrainians came out and said, they did not shoot down any hypersonic missile, but you wey dey one corner of your room dey browse nairaland on free mode dey talk say Ukraine down Khinzal

Your level of thinking is very low, when Ukrainians said they down the missile you denied, but you believed the so called denial from Kiev, right?
Can you provide at least one link to where they made the denial?

Kingpin1000:

You are really ignorant.
Just imagine your level of folly.
The Ukrainians came out and said, they did not shoot down any hypersonic missile, but you wey dey one corner of your room dey browse nairaland on free mode dey talk say Ukraine down Khinzal

2 hr 21 min ago
US officials are confident in Ukraine's claim it used Patriot system to stop a hypersonic missile, source says
From CNN's Zachary Cohen

The US has high confidence in the accuracy of Ukraine’s claim that it used an American-made Patriot air defense system to intercept a Russian hypersonic missile, according to a source familiar with the matter.

While the Patriot system has been successful in countering ballistic missiles, its ability to stop air-launched hypersonic missiles was purely theoretical before last week. Ukraine’s intercept has now provided a real-world demonstration of that capability — something that has been viewed within the Pentagon as a major development, the source said.

Ukraine’s intercept claim created buzz within the Pentagon late last week, the source added, noting it is significant for several reasons.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly touted the capabilities of Russia’s hypersonic weapons and cast them as capable of overcoming all existing air defense systems.

Production of hypersonic ballistic missiles has always been challenging for Russia and sanctions have only made it more difficult.