Russian attack on Patriot: air defense system has minor damage, still operational

This was reported to CNN by three US officials.

According to one of the officials, the air defense system received minor damage.

CNN's sources say the system itself is still operational and the Patriot's radar component, one of its most critical elements, was not damaged. US officials don't think the Patriot will need to be taken off the battlefield for repairs.

A complete Patriot battery has six main components: generators, radar, control station, antennas, launch station and interceptor missiles. The components work together to launch a Patriot missile and successfully guide it to its target.

"It is not clear what part of the Patriot was damaged or if it was damaged by an actual missile strike or falling debris," the publication noted.

Later, CNN clarified that two components of the Patriot anti-aircraft missile complex were damaged during the Russian missile attack, presumably by fragments of a downed missile - they are minor and the air defense system is in working order.

"The Russian barrage — which consisted of hypersonic Kinzhal missiles, Kalibr cruise missiles and other munitions — damaged the Patriot battery’s generator and part of the system’s electronics," the journalists said in a statement.

The damage was minimal, according to three US officials, with one calling it "minor". According to one of the officials, the system remained functional throughout the attack and remains online.

US officials are still assessing exactly how the air defense system components were damaged, as it does not appear that any of the components were directly hit by a Russian Kinzhal missile or other munition. One version is that debris from a falling missile damaged Patriot components, but officials are considering other options.

• Russia claimed to have destroyed the American air defense system. The US assumed that the Patriot system was damaged.

• Spokesman of the Air Force Command Yurii Ihnat said that it is impossible to destroy the Patriot with a Kinzhal missile and urged not to worry about the fate of the system.