Ukraine Claims It Downed More Kinzhals; Russia Says It Hit Patriot

Ukraine on May 16 again claimed it had downed a round of Russian hypersonic Kinzhal missiles, as U.S. and Ukrainian officials are rebuffing a Russian claim that it had destroyed a Patriot air defense system. 

The Ukrainian Air Force in a statement said it downed six Kinzhal missiles, along with nine Kalibr cruise missiles, three other ground-launched missiles and drones. It marked the second time in 10 days that Ukraine has announced it had downed Kinzhal missiles. 

In a statement, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said Russia on May 16 launched a total of 27 missiles and 37 air strikes across the country.

Russia’s defense ministry in a May 16 video statement claimed the Patriot system was destroyed in Kyiv as part of the strikes. A U.S. official told CNN the system was possibly damaged, and it was still to be determined if it could be repaired on the spot or pulled from the country to be repaired. Throughout the full-scale invasion, Russia has made several disputed claims that it damaged or destroyed Western-provided systems.

During a White House briefing, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said he could not confirm the reports, but “it would depend on the scope of the damage as to whether or not it could be repaired by Ukrainians.”

Other systems, such as U.S.-provided Howitzers, could be repaired within Ukraine with U.S. help, he said. 

“If there was damage done to the Patriot system that needed to be repaired, we would certainly assist with that,” Kirby says. 

Ukraine has received two Patriot systems so far, with other batteries expected to be delivered in the coming months. 

On May 6, the head of Ukraine’s Air Force said in a social media post that a Patriot interceptor downed an air-launched Kinzhal two days earlier. The Kinzhal was launched from a Mikoyan MiG-31K from inside Russian territory, Lt. Gen. Mykola Oleschuk said in a Telegram post.