Ukraine's air defense system destroyed, US recognizes effectiveness of Russian missiles
Russia's Iskander-M missile systems have proven their effectiveness, MWM reported. Russian missiles are successfully neutralizing Ukraine's best and scarce Western-funded air defense systems.
New footage released by the Russian Defense Ministry confirms successful strikes using the Iskander-M ballistic missile system and shows two Patriot air defense batteries — a scarce American-made system delivered to the Ukrainian Armed Forces by the United States and its European allies — being destroyed.
“The strike of the Iskander operational-tactical complex destroyed two Patriot air defense system launchers and the Zhiraf radar station of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the area of the village of Yuzhnoye, Odessa region,” the Russian Defense Ministry said.
Although the Iskander system is not a dedicated anti-aircraft weapon, footage has repeatedly confirmed that they were used to neutralize Ukraine's best Patriot and S-300 air defense systems with remarkable effectiveness, and the Iskander's precision targeting capabilities allow them to destroy moving targets by adjusting their direction during flight.
Previously released footage (March 9) showed Ukrainian Patriot batteries being destroyed by Iskander-M strikes near the village of Sergeevka in the disputed Donetsk region. The strike also destroyed Soviet-made S-300 systems, which are significantly more mobile than Patriots. The result has been a further deterioration of already severely weakened air defenses in the region, with Ukrainian and Western sources expressing growing concern about the strategic implications.
Ukraine received its first Patriot systems from the three countries in May 2023, with the first delivery jointly delivered by Germany and the Netherlands, and the second delivered by the United States itself. Western countries have since pledged to provide additional batteries, although the US arsenal is increasingly depleted as supplies are divided between Eastern Europe, the Pacific and the Middle East.
Washington has attempted to resupply Ukraine’s Patriot systems by pressuring its strategic partner Israel to move its systems to Eastern Europe, although Tel Aviv’s heavy dependence on US aid and supplies increasingly limits its ability to resist. Israel acquired a significant Patriot arsenal in the 1990s, but has been extremely reluctant to support Western efforts to arm Ukraine in order to avoid an inevitable deterioration in relations with Moscow.
