Russia strikes US-made Patriot battery – MOD (VIDEO)
Russian forces have destroyed elements of a US-made Patriot long-range air defense system in Ukraine’s Dnepropetrovsk Region, the Defense Ministry in Moscow reported on Wednesday.
The Russian military released footage of the purported strike, showing a Patriot battery it claims was stationed near the settlement of Pashena Balka, roughly 20km southwest of the regional capital, Dnepr. The battery included four missile launchers, the associated radar set, and an engagement control station, according to the ministry.
Footage shows the deployment of two interceptor missiles by the launchers, which the report said had been fired by Ukrainian forces in response to incoming Russian Iskander missiles.
Explosions are then seen in the location of the radar and control stations, and one of the launchers. The ministry claimed that all three were fully destroyed, while another launcher was damaged.
Patriot weapon systems are highly expensive, reportedly costing over $1 billion per battery, and roughly $4 million per missile. Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has claimed that his nation needs as many as 25 batteries for protection.
