Russia recently launched upgraded Iskander-M ballistic missiles at Ukraine, designed to be more difficult to intercept—even for advanced systems like the US-made Patriot. According to Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat, six out of nine missiles targeting Kyiv, including the Iskander and North Korean KN-23, were successfully intercepted. Ihnat noted that the Iskander missiles employed radar decoys and followed a semi-ballistic trajectory to reduce interception chances. While these enhancements complicate defense efforts, he emphasized they do not make interception impossible and expressed confidence that Ukraine’s allies are already working on boosting air defense capabilities.
