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Just One American Patriot System Has Already Taken Down 140 Russian Ballistic Missiles
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Ukraine’s Air Force has confirmed that one of its Patriot missile defense units has intercepted more than 140 Russian ballistic missiles. The total number of aerial targets intercepted by the unit has reached nearly 250.
According to an official statement from Ukraine’s Air Force Command on January 28, division commander Vyacheslav Ageyev stated in an interview:
“To date, we have destroyed nearly 250 targets using the Patriot system, more than 140 of which were ballistic missiles.”
The Ukrainian Patriot division responsible for these interceptions was the first to undergo training in the United States following the delivery of Patriot PAC-3 systems as part of Western military aid. Ageyev noted that mastering the advanced US-made system was significantly easier after working with older Soviet-era technology.
“Three months turned out to be too much. After manual Soviet systems, it was easy to master. After three to four weeks, I called the brigade commander: ‘Commander, we know everything. Bring us back to Ukraine — we want to fight,’” Ageyev said.
The division made global headlines in May 2023 by becoming the first in the world to shoot down a Russian Kinzhal (Kh-47M2) aeroballistic missile. That missile, launched from a MiG-31K aircraft, was previously believed by Russia to be virtually invulnerable to interception due to its high speed, which reportedly reaches up to Mach 10.
On May 16, 2023, Ukrainian forces intercepted all 16 ballistic missiles launched by Russia in a single night. In another major engagement on January 2, 2024, Ageyev’s unit reportedly downed eight cruise missiles, ten Kinzhals, and several drones as part of Ukraine’s integrated air defense response.
The PAC-3 variant of the Patriot system is designed for intercepting short- and medium-range ballistic missiles in their terminal flight phase. It uses hit-to-kill technology and supports multiple interceptor types, enhancing flexibility against a variety of threats including hypersonic weapons.
The first operational Patriot air defense system in Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/xwoEmfmynK
— Clash Report (@clashreport) April 26, 2023
Ukraine first received Patriot systems in 2023, with operators trained abroad before deploying the systems in combat. According to Ukrainian military officials, these units have played a key role in protecting Kyiv and other high-priority targets.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed in January 2026 during his meeting with US President Donald Trump in Davos that Ukraine had secured additional missile deliveries for its Patriot batteries.
Russia has repeatedly attempted to destroy Ukraine’s Patriot systems, employing reconnaissance, drones, and misinformation campaigns to locate and strike the units. However, according to Ukraine’s Air Force, these attempts have so far failed.
“The enemy has claimed to destroy us many times. But we continue to operate,” said Ageyev.
The effectiveness of the Patriot system in intercepting ballistic threats, particularly the Kinzhal missile, has altered perceptions of missile defense capabilities globally. US partners and analysts previously debated whether the Patriot system could neutralize such threats in real-world conditions.
Ageyev was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine in February 2024. He emphasized that the recognition reflected the collective effort of the entire air defense team:
“This is not a personal award. The Patriot, S-300, and other systems are collective weapons. Each machine is operated by people. Without them, nothing would work.”
Earlier, Ukraine deployed two additional Patriot air defense systems to strengthen protection of its cities and critical infrastructure. According to the Ministry of Defense, the systems were brought into service on January 1, 2026, as part of military assistance arrangements announced in December in coordination with Germany and other partners.
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