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Tomahawks Have Already Beaten Russian Air Defenses—Ukraine Warns More Could Be Coming
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Russia’s air defense systems have already faced US-made Tomahawk cruise missiles—and failed to intercept them effectively, according to Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC).
The head of the center, Andrii Kovalenko, made the statement on October 13 in a post on his official Telegram channel, following US President Donald Trump’s recent announcement that NATO would provide Tomahawk missiles to support Ukraine’s defense.
Kovalenko recalled that Russian and Syrian forces previously encountered Tomahawks during US strikes on military facilities in Syria in 2017 and 2018.
He noted that Russian and Syrian reports at the time claimed “massive interceptions” of the missiles, but independent analyses found that most of the launched weapons reached their intended targets.
According to Kovalenko, the Tomahawk’s effectiveness stems from its low flight altitude and complex navigation system, which makes detection and interception extremely difficult.
Successful defense against such missiles requires a dense network of low-altitude radar systems, rapid data transmission, and highly coordinated air defense responses—conditions Russia and Syria failed to achieve.
He added that systems like the S-400 and Pantsir remain poorly suited for countering Tomahawk-class cruise missiles. Coordinated “package launches,” in which multiple missiles are fired simultaneously, further overload air defenses and increase the likelihood of successful strikes.
Kovalenko emphasized that developing Ukraine’s own long-range strike capabilities and expanding radar cooperation with international partners is essential to counter future threats. “Without a reliable detection network, any air defense system becomes a tool of propaganda rather than real protection,” he said.
Earlier, Fox News reported that President Donald Trump warned he might send Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine if Russia refuses to settle the war.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump called the weapon “very offensive” and said he would consider discussing the idea directly with Vladimir Putin. “If this war is not going to get settled, I’m going to send them Tomahawks,” he told reporters.
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