US suggests Russian missiles damaged Patriot, Ukrainian Armed Forces do not comment
On Tuesday, May 16, Russia claimed to have destroyed a Patriot surface-to-air missile system in Kyiv with a Kinzhal missile. Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense commented on the statement, while CNN said that Patriot was likely damaged
Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense commented on Twitter.
The ministry trolled the Russian MoD and noted that Russia does not even need an army to conquer the world, as long as it has a press service.
"The Russian ministry of defense's press service is more powerful than most countries' armies. Russia doesn’t even need an army to conquer the entire world; its state media and MoD spokesperson Konashenkov are more than adequate," the statement said.
The russian ministry of defense's press service is more powerful than most countries' armies.
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) May 16, 2023
russia doesn’t even need an army to conquer the entire world; its state media and MoD spokesperson konashenkov are more than adequate. pic.twitter.com/Zh1PRoN4Oq
On May 16, CNN reported, citing a US official, that the Patriot system was likely damaged, but not destroyed, as the result of a Russian missile barrage in and around Kyiv early Tuesday morning.
The US is still assessing the extent of the damage, the official said. That will determine whether the system needs to be pulled back entirely or simply repaired on the spot.
White House Strategic Communications Coordinator for the National Security Council John Kirby said at a briefing that he could not confirm reports of alleged damage to the Patriot air defense missile system in Ukraine.
“I cannot confirm the reports about the Patriot system being damaged in Ukraine,” Kirby was quoted as saying by the Voice of America’s Ostap Yarysh.
“But if there was damage done that needed to be repaired outside Ukraine, we would certainly assist with that,” Kirby added.
‼️ US NatSec John Kirby: I cannot confirm the reports about the Patriot system being damaged in Ukraine. ... I just can't speak to this. But if there was damage done that needed to be repaired outside Ukraine, we would certainly assist with that.
— Ostap Yarysh (@OstapYarysh) May 16, 2023
-
On the night of May 16, Ukrainian air defense shot down 6 Kinzhal missiles, 9 Kalibr and 3 ballistic missiles that Russian forces fired to attack Ukraine.
- News