Yurii Ihnat, Ukrainian Air Force Spokesman, commented on the information about the alleged hit to the Patriot air defense system during a recent missile attack.

He noted that it is impossible to destroy the entire system with a Kinzhal missile.

He also clarified that the Patriot air defense system consists of a command post where the combat service is located. The personnel monitors the air situation and processes information within their area of responsibility.

In addition, there is a radar located at a certain distance that provides information to the system.

The system includes eight launchers, each of which has four transport and launch containers. They are also located at a certain distance.

“That is exactly what Patriot is. It is impossible to destroy the system with some Kinzhal missile. That’s why everything said there should remain in the archive of their propaganda,” Yurii Ihnat said.

He also emphasized that the system can work in manual, semi-automatic, and automatic modes. It was the automatic mode that allowed repulsing a missile attack on the Kyiv region the day before.

“It is in the automatic mode of operation that the Patriot can shoot down air targets without human intervention, as it happened last night. Automation, in fact, here means the speed of decision-making, target detection, and the use of weapons,” Yurii Ihnat added.

The White House also did not confirm information on the destruction or damage to the Patriot air defense system during the missile attack on Kyiv.

“I cannot confirm the reports about the Patriot system being damaged in Ukraine,” said John Kirby, National Security Adviser of the White House.

‼️ US NatSec John Kirby: I cannot confirm the reports about the Patriot system being damaged in Ukraine. … I just can't speak to this. But if there was damage done that needed to be repaired outside Ukraine, we would certainly assist with that.

— Ostap Yarysh (@OstapYarysh) May 16, 2023

He also added that if there was damage that needed to be repaired outside Ukraine, the United States would certainly assist with that.

Prior to this, CNN, with reference to an anonymous source, reported that the Patriot air defense system was probably damaged and not destroyed, as the Russian Federation claimed.

As previously reported, during the night attack on Kyiv on May 16, air defense forces destroyed six Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missiles, nine Kalibr cruise missiles, and three land-launched missiles, probably S-400 and Iskander-M.

Later, the evening briefing of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine specified that 10 land-launched missiles (S-400, “Iskander-M”) were destroyed during the day.