Ukrainian officials announced on Saturday that the nation’s military shot down a Russian hypersonic missile using American Patriot defense technology.
The Kinzhal-type missile reportedly fired on Kiev is the first of its kind to be intercepted by Ukrainian defences.
“Yes, we shot down the ‘unique’ Kinzhal,” wrote Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk.
RUSSIA BLAMES US FOR ALLEGED ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT WITH PUTIN’S DRONE
FILE – Patriot missile launchers purchased by the United States last year are seen deployed in Warsaw, Poland, February 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Michal Dyjuk, Files)
He added: “It happened during the May 4 night attack in the skies over the Kiev region.”
The Kh-47 missile was reportedly launched from a Russian MiG-31K aircraft. It has a range of 1,250 miles and can fly at 10 times the speed of sound.
THE NEWSPAPER USES A VIDEO GAME TO TRAFFICK UKRAINIAN WAR TRUTH TO RUSSIAN CITIZENS
The Ukrainian military says the ballistic shell was intercepted by a Patriot missile.
FILE – Members of the US 10th Army’s Air and Missile Defense Command next to a battery of Patriot surface-to-air missiles during NATO’s land-based air defense units multinational exercise ‘Tobruq Legacy 2017’ at Siauliai Air Base about 230km. (144 miles) east of the capital Vilnius, Lithuania on July 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis, Files)
“They said the Patriot is an obsolete American weapon and Russian weapons are the best in the world,” Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
He continued: “Well, there is confirmation that it works effectively against a supersonic missile as well.” Ihnat said.
The United States, Germany, and the Netherlands have all contributed Patriot defense systems to the Ukrainian war effort. Ukraine received its first Patriot system last month.
