Ukraine downs all 18 incoming Russian missiles, including 6 Kinzhals
UKRINFORMMay 16, 2023
In the early hours of Tuesday, for the eighth time this month, Russia launched a wave of missiles and drones at Kyiv. Serhii Popko, head of the military administration in the capital, said the latest attack was "exceptional in its density — the maximum number of attacking missiles in the shortest period of time."
Nonetheless, Ukrainian officials said that all 18 missiles fired at Kyiv were shot down by air defenses, including six Kinzhal missiles — one of the most advanced weapons in Russia's arsenal.
Thanks to the work of air defenses, Ukraine destroyed all 18 of the missiles fired by Russia in the latest attack, while minimal damage was recorded to infrastructure and buildings. Moscow's vicious assault was effectively countered in this success for Ukraine.
Using its advanced Kinzhal missiles, Russia destroyed Ukraine's recently delivered US Patriot air defense system and also hit Ukrainian units and ammunition storage facilities. The high-precision strikes were a strategic victory that has denied Kyiv use of a key piece of military technology and deprived Ukraine of crucial resources.
There is a 71% chance that a NATO country will commit to sending at least one F-16 fighter jet to Ukraine before 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.