Patriot system cannot be destroyed with Kinzhal missile – AFU Air Force spokesman

This was stated by Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat during the telethon.

According to Ignat, the claim of the air defense system being damaged is merely another instance of Russian propaganda.

"Yesterday we refrained from commenting because we don't engage with Konashenkov's lies, who has repeatedly claimed to have destroyed our entire aviation fleet. If we had as many planes as they claim to have destroyed, we would have won a long time ago," he said.

The spokesperson assured that Ukrainians need not worry about the fate of the Patriot system.

"From a technical standpoint, this is a complex, a battery, a division, a system. The Patriot's automatic mode enables it to shoot down enemy aircraft without human intervention, as demonstrated last night. It is simply impossible to destroy the entire system with a single Kinzhal strike."

• On Tuesday, May 16, Russia made an announcement alleging the destruction of the Patriot air defense system in Kyiv using a Kinzhal missile. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense responded to the enemy's statement, but later in the evening, CNN, citing sources, suggested that the system might have incurred some damage.