Ukraine shoots down a Russian warplane with Patriot air defense system – CNN

19 May, 2023 Illustration for the news. Patriot air defense system. Photo credits: AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski

Ukrainian air defense has shot down a Russian warplane with the Patriot SAM, CNN reports. Ukraine received these air defense systems from partners who support the country's fight against a full-scale Russian invasion. Unnamed Pentagon officials and congressional staffers reported that in recent weeks Ukrainian troops had used the US-made Patriot air defense system to shoot down at least one faraway Russian fighter jet.

According to the CNN, other air defense systems in Ukraine did not have a sufficient range for this.

Patriot air defense system launcher. Photo credits: U.S.

Department of Defense

The Russian warplanes which the Patriot targeted had been on a bombing run to fire missiles against Ukrainian targets, in particular to strike civilian targets, which Russia had been doing throughout the past year, US officials said. According to the US officials, the Ukrainians were responsible for making their own firing decisions once the west provided the Patriot systems, noting it was up to the Ukrainians when and how to engage the Patriots for protecting their people. Patriot air defense systems and their components arrived in Ukraine from the United States, Germany and the Netherlands.

The systems were transferred to Ukraine to protect against Russian air attacks.

Patriot air defense system launcher of the Netherlands. Photo credits: NATO media library

According to the Pentagon officials, Patriot systems have strengthened Ukraine's air defense, because they make it possible to shoot down, in particular, ballistic missiles and enemy aircraft aimed at both troops and civilian objects. As previously reported, during the night attack on Kyiv on May 16, Ukrainian air defense destroyed six Kh-47M2 Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missiles, nine Kalibr cruise missiles and three land-launched missiles, probably S-400 and Iskander-M.

However, in the evening summary of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, it was specified that 10 land-launched missiles (S-400, "Iskander-M") had been destroyed during the day.

Wreckage of the Russian Kh-47m2 Kinzhal missile downed on May 4, 2023 over Kyiv. Photo credits: Ivan Korzh/Suspilne

Subsequently, the CNN channel reported, citing an US official, that the Patriot launcher was most likely damaged, but not destroyed, as a result of the Russian missile attack on the Ukrainian capital. Later, the Pentagon confirmed that one Patriot air defense system in Ukraine was damaged.

However, after repairs, the US air defence system is working again.