According to military blogger Chingis Dambiev, a Russian strike on Ukrainian positions in Kiev killed Lieutenant Colonel Denis Sakun, the chief engineer responsible for servicing American MIM-104F Patriot surface-to-air missile systems.

Reports stated that the Ukrainian Patriot air defense system in Kiev, maintained by Sakun, was struck by a precise Russian ballistic missile. The Ukrainian officer was killed when the system’s ammunition detonated as he attempted to extinguish a fire caused by the strike.

In its September 1 briefing, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported the destruction of a launcher and a command post of the American Patriot missile system in Ukraine.

Western media, in turn, noted that Russian ballistic missiles with improved maneuverability, used in Ukraine, have significantly reduced the effectiveness of American-made Patriot systems.

At present, Ukrainian forces are known to have five Patriot batteries: three supplied by the United States, one by Romania, and another jointly provided by Germany and the Netherlands.