Ukraine has Once Again Begun Shooting Down Russian Ballistic Missiles

Ukrainian air defenses have once again begun intercepting Russian ballistic missiles.

The Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated this.

According to the command, as of 9:00 a.m. on July 14, air defense forces shot down or intercepted five Iskander-M/S-400 ballistic missiles that the Russians had launched at Kyiv overnight from the Bryansk region.

In addition, two Kh-59/69 guided air-to-ground missiles (launched from the airspace of the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea) and 108 enemy UAVs of the Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas, and other types were shot down in the north, south, east, and center of the country.

In total, on the night of July 14 (starting at 6:00 p.m. on July 13), the enemy launched 8 Iskander-M/S-400 ballistic missiles and 135 strike and other UAVs from various directions.

“Ballistic missile strikes and strikes by 25 attack UAVs were recorded at 17 locations, as well as debris falling at 10 locations. Information regarding two ballistic missiles is being verified,” the Ukrainian Air Force Command reported.

The air attack by Russian occupiers was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile forces, electronic warfare units, unmanned aerial systems, and mobile fire groups of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

Strengthening Ukraine’s Air Defense

On July 9, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine would receive a shipment of PAC-3 missiles for its Patriot air defense systems from the United States in the coming days.

In recent months, Russia has intensified its airstrikes on Ukraine, using an increasing number of ballistic and hypersonic missiles. Intercepting such targets is significantly more challenging than shooting down cruise missiles or drones. Currently, these targets are intercepted by Patriot systems equipped with PAC-3 missiles, which are in short supply due to limited stockpiles and production capacity.

In early July, the Ministry of Defense announced that Ukraine had taken a step toward purchasing approximately 100 interceptor missiles for Patriot systems using funds from a European Union loan.

During a joint press conference with President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara on July 8, U.S. President Donald Trump raised the possibility of granting Ukraine a license to manufacture missiles for the Patriot air defense systems.

The following day, Wladyslav Kosiniak-Kamysz, Minister of National Defense, stated that Poland would cooperate with Ukraine in the production and maintenance of PAC-3 missiles for the Patriot systems. Prior to this, it was reported that Poland had supplied Ukraine with five PAC-3 missiles at the request of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and, among others, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), following consultations with countries operating the Patriot system.