Russia says it destroyed 5 launchers, radar of US Patriot missile defense system in Ukraine

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russia’s Defense Ministry said Wednesday that five launchers and the radar of a Patriot missile defense system supplied by the US to Ukraine were destroyed in a strike on May 16.

"According to reliably confirmed data, on May 16, as a result of a strike by the Kinzhal hypersonic missile system in the city of Kyiv, a multifunctional radar station as well as five launchers of the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system manufactured by the United States were hit and completely destroyed," the ministry said in a statement.

Separately, US cable news network CNN claimed that the system was not destroyed but only damaged and that its most important part, the radar, remains operational.