The occupiers have begun to use missiles more frequently and from various directions.
The Iskander-M missile can make slight maneuvers when approaching its target, complicating the operation of the Patriot air defense system.
As noted by the head of the communication department of the Air Force Command, Yuriy Ihnat, in an interview with "RBK-Ukraine", the Patriot system intercepts ballistic missiles in automatic mode, making it harder to calculate the moment of intercept for a missile that maneuvers in flight.
"However, the Patriot continues to operate, and there are results in intercepting both Iskanders and Kinzhal missiles," he assured.
According to Ihnat, the Russian Federation has significantly increased the number of Iskander-M launches compared to previous years. The Russian occupiers have also begun to use Iskander-M more frequently and from various directions, combining them with other means, namely drones and cruise missiles.
"And this, in turn, also complicates their interception. The ratio of ballistic missile use to cruise missiles has increased compared to previous years. Plus, one Patriot battery during an attack 'looks' in a specific direction - it cannot see and hit enemy targets in 360 degrees," the military added.
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Earlier, the Financial Times reported that Russia is upgrading its bombs for strikes on Ukraine, which may put a strain on the Patriot systems. The publication emphasized that air defense resources in Ukraine are limited, as the country is barely coping with repelling mass attacks from the Russian Federation, which the enemy conducts almost every night.
"According to data analysis collected by the London Center for Information Resilience, conducted by the Financial Times, the interception rate of Russian missiles has dropped from 37% in the summer to just 6% in September," FT noted.
At the same time, the channel German Aid to Ukraine on social media X reported that Ukraine will receive two Patriot launchers in the coming days. This delivery has been largely financed by Denmark, Lithuania, and Norway.
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