Why Russia’s ballistic missiles are breaking through in Ukraine

Russia's ballistic missiles pose a significant threat to Ukraine due to their rapid descent, leaving air defense systems mere seconds to react. Ukraine states that only the US-made Patriot defense system can effectively intercept these missiles. However, Ukraine reports having insufficient Patriot batteries and interceptors to adequately protect its cities. Unlike cruise missiles, ballistic missiles are launched like rockets and then dive steeply at supersonic speeds, making them difficult to counter. This limited reaction time and insufficient defensive capabilities have left Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities increasingly vulnerable to these attacks.