KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s air force said Tuesday it intercepted five ballistic missiles launched by Russia in a raft of overnight attacks, although other missiles and drones got through and hit warehouses and a school in the capital of Kyiv.
It was the first time in almost two weeks that Ukraine said it had downed Russian ballistic missiles, which are harder to stop than drones or cruise missiles and have pummeled the country in Moscow’s 4-year-old full-scale invasion.
Ukrainian air defenses likely used the U.S.-made Patriot surface-to-air guided missile system that is the most effective way of countering ballistic missiles, but ammunition for it has been in short supply amid the Iran war despite European efforts to make up for the shortfall.
Tuesday’s attack in Kyiv caused fires at two warehouses and also damaged a school, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement it targeted military manufacturing facilities that produce long-range missiles and drones.
— The Associated Press


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