Satellite image of Patriot site in Kyiv

Satellite images reveal multiple Patriot air defense launchers positioned in fortified areas at Zhulyany Airport in Kyiv, showcasing Ukraine’s defensive strength.

Commercial satellite imagery captured in September 2023 and released on October 27 reveals a significant deployment of 11 missile launchers at Zhulyany International Airport in Kyiv, Ukraine. This number exceeds the typical configuration of a full Patriot battery by one and a half times. The launchers are strategically positioned between the aircraft parking area and the airport’s sole runway.Each launcher is housed in an individual bunker, constructed with solid walls, and there is a minimum distance of over 100 meters separating each bunker. It remains uncertain whether all launchers are operational or if some are models placed for deception.

This layout is designed to mitigate damage from potential Russian airstrikes, reducing the risk of losing multiple launchers to a single hit.In addition to the launchers, there is a covered area between them, likely housing unknown equipment, possibly a guidance radar or a command post for the Patriot battery.

The site also includes five empty bunkers, which may serve as backup for additional launchers or facilitate the rotation of Ukrainian air defense assets, complicating enemy targeting efforts.The imagery also reveals a deep crater near one of the missile launch sites, presumably created by a Russian shell. The fortifications at Zhulyany appear to have been constructed following a Russian airstrike on a Patriot site in Kyiv in May 2023, as earlier satellite imagery showed the area devoid of any defensive structures.

The Russian military news site AviaPro reports that Ukraine has deployed a series of self-propelled anti-aircraft missile and artillery systems around the Patriot site at Zhulyany Airport. This move aims to bolster the defense of this critical military asset, regarded as one of the most expensive components of Ukraine’s military arsenal.

Neither the Russian Defense Ministry nor the Ukrainian military has commented on this development.In May, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Kateryna Chernohorenko expressed concerns that commercial satellite imagery was revealing sensitive military information, such as air defense locations and equipment assembly points. She urged satellite companies to avoid photographing Ukrainian territory.Since the delivery of Patriot missiles from the West in early 2023, Russian forces have consistently targeted Zhulyany Airport.

During a raid on May 16, 2023, Russia launched a Kinzhal hypersonic missile at the Patriot site in Kyiv, claiming a successful strike. Security camera footage from the city captured the suspected Patriot system firing 30 missiles in a two-minute span to intercept the Russian attack.While several U.S. officials confirmed that the Patriot complex sustained damage, they reported that it was not completely destroyed.

The Patriot missile system stands as the priciest weaponry supplied by the U.S. and its allies to Ukraine, with each unit valued at nearly $1.1 billion. This hefty price tag breaks down to approximately $690 million for the missile itself and an additional $400 million for other essential components.Currently, Ukraine operates around 3-5 Patriot complexes provided by the United States and several European nations. This system was anticipated to be a game-changer in Ukraine’s air defense strategy, thanks to its advanced capabilities compared to earlier Western-provided systems.

Despite this, Russian forces have persistently targeted Patriot sites, utilizing Iskander-M ballistic missiles and Kinzhal hypersonic missiles to strike launch pads in transit. Compounding the issue, the ammunition for Ukraine’s air defense systems is dwindling, enhancing the effectiveness of Russian missile and drone assaults.In a recent development on October 9, Russia released footage showing a Ukrainian Patriot site in Dnipro province firing before being struck by an Iskander-M missile. Moscow claimed that the attack resulted in the destruction of the AN/MSQ-104 command post, the AN/MPQ-65 multi-purpose radar, and one launcher, while also damaging another. However, Kyiv has yet to comment on these claims or the released footage.

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