Russian Kinzhals no match for outdated Patriot systems in Kyiv

The attack carried out by the Russians on Kyiv on October 7, 2024, aimed to hit streets crowded with people leaving shelters after an alarm. The Russian intentions were thwarted because the Kinzhal missiles—once considered unstoppable—became easy targets for the outdated American Patriot systems.

On October 7, during the morning hours Eastern Time, the Russians attacked the Ukrainian capital with two types of weapons. First, 32 drones from the Shahed family arrived. Although they were shot down, this triggered an alarm. Once Ukrainian air defense eliminated the threat, two Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missiles approached.

The attack posed a significant danger. Since the Kinzhal travels at hypersonic speed (above Mach 5), the time between its detection and impact is too short for civilians to seek shelter. As noted by Defence 24, in this instance, the Kinzhals could have struck when Kyiv's streets were full of people leaving shelters after the Shahed attack.

Because of this, Ukraine issues an alarm not only for incoming Kinzhals but also when MiG-31K aircraft, carriers of the Kh-47 missile, take off from airports in Russia or Belarus.

In the war's first year, Russians had a substantial chance of success with Kinzhal attacks on Ukraine. The Kinzhal moves so fast that older anti-aircraft systems that can detect it struggle to track the missile.

The brief reaction time for anti-aircraft systems also means that many cannot compute the data needed for launching counter-missiles. Therefore, in 2022, Ukrainians admitted that it was impossible to destroy incoming Kinzhals with the anti-aircraft weapons they then possessed.

The situation dramatically improved with the delivery of Western anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine, including the MIM-104 Patriot. A particularly glaring failure for Russia occurred during an attack on the night of May 15-16, 2023, when out of 18 missiles fired at Kyiv (including six Kinzhals) and cruise missiles, Ukrainian defense shot down all 18.

In the attack on October 7, 2024, both Kinzhals were destroyed, although their high-speed debris fell on populated areas without causing significant damage.

There were unknown effects from a third Kinzhal, which targeted the airfield in Starokostiantyniv in Khmelnytskyi Oblast. According to Ukrainian sources, the Russian missile fell "in the vicinity" of the airfield. This base is where—according to unofficial reports—Ukrainian F-16s are temporarily stationed.