According to the Ukrainian Air Force, two of these missiles were successfully intercepted over Kyiv Oblast, while one hit the area near the Starokostiantyniv airbase in Khmelnytskyi Oblast. All three missiles were likely aimed at the airbase, reported Ukrainian outlet Defense Express.
As Kinzhal missiles fly at supersonic speeds before the final approach to the target, the sonic booms they produced were audible in Kyiv.
“If we were to draw a straight course of a Kinzhal [missile] from Tambov Oblast to Starokostiantyniv, they would all pass through or near Kyiv and its outskirts,” the report said.
Analysts from Defense Express noted that this means enemy missiles can enter the operational range of air defense systems protecting the capital.
The Ukrainian Air Force occasionally officially reports on the use of U.S.-made Patriot systems near Kyiv to intercept Kinzhal and other ballistic missiles. In some cases, such as this latest one, the missiles were intercepted while still flying at hypersonic speeds.
“But in this case, it's not about downing the hypersonic Kh-47M2 Kinzhal during its final target approach, but rather a successful interception during the cruise phase of its flight,” the article said.
“The difference between these two scenarios is significant. When Kinzhal is already descending onto a target, its speed is no longer hypersonic. However, during the cruise phase, its speed exceeds Mach 5 or is close to that.”
Russia claims that Kinzhal is capable of "maneuvering throughout its flight path," which is supposed to help it avoid hostile air defenses.
“In reality, even Kinzhal's speed during the cruise phase is not a problem for Patriot, despite its supposed maneuvering capabilities,” the report added.
“Yet, the enemy stubbornly routes them over Kyiv. This is not the first instance of a Kh-47M2 Kinzhal being intercepted mid-flight near the capital, but it is certainly one of the first instances where interception details have been officially announced.”
"In any case, if indeed the interception of the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal by a Patriot system is possible during the cruise phase, this fundamentally undermines the entire rationale behind the missile's development. Especially given that, in the fantasies of Russian propagandists, it was supposed to be impervious to any existing anti-missile defense systems.”