Foreign media report the destruction of two Patriot launchers in Ukraine

Foreign media report the destruction of two Patriot launchers in Ukraine

International media report the destruction of two Patriot launchers near Pokrovsk, Donetsk region. The armed forces have not commented on this, but the Institute for the Study of War believes that this is not true.

Forbes , ISW , Bild journalist Julian Röpke write about this on Twitter

This is the first time in two years of Russia’s large-scale war against Ukraine that the Russians managed to find and destroy Patriot installations.

Meanwhile, Bild journalist Röpke writes that the launchers were 10 meters apart and they "were parked long enough for Russia to fire a ballistic missile at them."

In turn, the Institute for the Study of War has not yet confirmed the destruction of Ukrainian Patriots, since the Russians showed footage of the destruction of MAN KAT1 trucks, which can both transport Patriot installations and be used in logistics.

Forbes recalls that Ukrainian Patriots have destroyed about a dozen Russian fighter-bombers over the past month, somewhat reducing Russia’s advantage in the air.

“It is quite possible that the launchers and crews that the Iskander hit this week 20 miles (more than 30 kilometers) from the front line were the same ones that have shot down many Russian aircraft.

The air over eastern Ukraine may have become much safer for Russians."

The publication considered that if this information was confirmed, the Ukrainians lost up to 13% of their Patriot launchers as a result of one disaster, and, obviously, did not have air defense cover during the movement.

It is noted that Patriots can be shot down by Russian Iskanders without any problems, but when they are deployed and ready to work, and are not in motion between firing positions.