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Russia's defense ministry made the assertion on Tuesday after an
overnight air attack on the Ukrainian capital. Two U.S.
officials later said a Patriot system had probably suffered
damage but that it did not appear to have been destroyed.
"I want to say: do not worry about the fate of the Patriot,"
Ukrainian air force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat told Ukrainian
television.
He ruled out the possibility of a Russian "Kinzhal" missile
knocking out a Patriot system.
"Destroying the system with some kind of 'Kinzhal', it's
impossible. Everything that they say there, it can remain in
their propaganda archive," he said.
The Patriot system is one of an array of sophisticated air
defense units supplied by the West to help Ukraine repel Russian
air strikes following Moscow's invasion last year.
It is considered one of the most advanced U.S. air defense
systems, including against aircraft, cruise missiles and
ballistic missiles, and typically includes launchers along with
radar and other support vehicles.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has touted the Kinzhal missile
as proof that his country has world-beating military hardware.
Ukraine said it had shot down six Kinzhal missiles on Tuesday,
but Russia denied this. It was not clear which Western weapon
Ukraine used, and the Pentagon had no immediate comment.
(Reporting by Olena Harmash, Editing by Timothy Heritage and
Nick Macfie)
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