Why Ukraine Fears Russia’s Kh-22 Missiles Over Kinzhals?

Since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, the fear of Russian missile attacks has been a prominent concern. While hypersonic missiles like the Kinzhal receive significant attention, it is the Kh-22, a seemingly less advanced missile, that has raised serious alarms among Ukrainian air defense forces. In 2000, Ukraine transferred 386 Kh-22 missiles to Russia as part of a gas debt repayment. Throughout the invasion, Russian forces have launched around 300 Kh-22 missiles at Ukraine, none of which have been intercepted or taken down by Ukrainian air defense systems. Ukrainian air force spokesperson Yuriy Ignat acknowledged this, highlighting the substantial threat posed by Kh-22 missiles. In December, Moscow’s TASS media reported on Ignat’s comments regarding the technical challenges of intercepting Kh-22 missiles, emphasizing the need for specialized interception methods. The missile’s speed and trajectory present significant obstacles for conventional air defense systems. Ignat mentioned the Patriot air defense systems as potentially effective against the Kh-22, but their success in countering the missile in the Ukrainian context remains uncertain. Despite receiving Western support with various air defense systems, Ukrainian authorities argue that these systems are insufficient to defend against the Kh-22 threat, making this Cold War relic more concerning to Ukraine than the hypersonic Kinzhal.