“Ukraine shot down a Russian hypersonic missile using the American Patriot system”

A US-provided Patriot missile system could have been used to intercept the missile

Ukraine reportedly intercepted a Russian hypersonic missile for the first time, as reported.

Local media reports have suggested that air defense units using the high-tech Patriot missile system provided by the US may have been responsible for the unprecedented feat.

Images allegedly showing fragments of a downed Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missile, which Russia claims can fly at 10 times the speed of sound, have been released by Ukrainian Defense Express.

Missile fragments , known in Russia as a «dagger», fell on an empty football stadium in Kiev after reports of a loud explosion early Thursday morning.

The explosion coincided with a long-range Russian shelling using Iranian-fired drones and less advanced missiles aimed at on the Ukrainian capital, according to local administrators, who have not confirmed the use of a hypersonic missile.

Photographs of the remains show a hole in the top of the weapon's pointed shell, reportedly caused by precision-guided munitions while the missile was still in the air.

The hole in the top of the weapon's pointed shell is visible

Defense Express stated that the projectile was «apparently» intercepted by a recently acquired Patriot missile system.

The Ukrainian air defense team soldier in charge of the interception confirmed that the Kinzhal was destroyed by a US-donated system in a tweet that has since been deleted.

The device was reportedly found, tracked and shot down by the missile in its final stages flight as it begins to slow down.

Ukrainian Air Force officials declined to comment on the claims.

The Patriot missile defense system

Before the apparent intercept, there were no known successful attempts to disable the hypersonic weapon the Kremlin called «unstoppable».

Russian forces first used the «Dagger» in combat in Ukraine on March 29 last year, when the missile was used to destroy a fuel depot.

This missile, fired from specially adapted MiG-31 jet fighters, has a claimed range of up to 1900 miles.

According to Russian statements, the missile cannot be shot down by any of the most advanced Western air defense systems.

Prior to the delivery of Patriot systems to Ukraine, the Kiev armed forces stated that they had no ability to intercept a hypersonic missile.