How the US-made Patriot has become Ukraine’s last line of defense against Russia’s fastest missiles

On January 28, 2026, Ukraine’s Air Force announced that the 6th Anti-aircraft Missile Brigade Kyivska, a Patriot air defense unit credited with the first interception of a Russian Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missile in May 2023, had intercepted more than 140 ballistic missiles and nearly 250 aerial targets.

US-made Patriot air defense systems have now become central to countering Russia’s fastest ballistic and aeroballistic missiles during large-scale attacks on major cities and critical infrastructure.

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Since entering combat service in 2023, Patriot units have been tasked primarily with intercepting high-speed threats that exceed the capabilities of other air defense systems in Ukraine’s inventory. (Picture source: Raytheon)

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Ukraine downs Russian hypersonic missile with US Patriot ...

Patriot missile systems are Ukraine's primary defense against Russia's fastest ballistic missiles, such as the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal. While credited with a high success rate against these threats, the system is actively being targeted by Russian, with at least one battery destroyed as of January 2026. Recent upgrades to Russian missiles have improved their evasion, reducing the interception rate to as low as 6% in some reports.

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