MOSCOW, December 29. /TASS/. The Ukrainian air defense forces have not been able to down a single Kh-22 supersonic cruise missile since the beginning of the Russian special military operation, Ukrainian air force spokesman Yury Ignat said.

"None were downed at all," Ignat said, answering a question if Ukrainian forces were able to intercept at least one such missile.

"The Kh-22 missile travels at a speed of 4,000 km/h, it approaches its target mainly via ballistic trajectory. […] Special means are necessary to intercept it," he explained, noting that such special means include Patriot air defense systems, which Kiev already has in its arsenal.

Earlier in August, Ignat noted that Ukrainian air defenses cannot counter Russia’s Kh-22 missiles. He admitted that, by that point, Ukraine was unable to down a single missile of this type.

Previously, analysts of The Washington Post noted that Russia’s use of Kinzhal and Kh-22 missiles in Ukraine revealed that the US and its allies do not have a similar weapon, difficult to intercept via modern missile defense systems. According to a number of Russian and foreign experts, even modern air defense missiles are unable to guaranteed downing of these Russian missiles.

After the beginning of the special military operation, Western states provided Kiev with SAMP-T, Patriot, Iris-T, NASAMS and Crotale air defense systems, but Ukrainian authorities state that the received systems are not sufficient. Previously, Ignat addicted that Soviet-made vehicles comprise the backbone of Ukrainian air defenses. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky admitted that Kiev finds it very difficult to work with Western partners regarding the shipment of additional Patriot air defense systems.