Ukraine says its newly fielded U.S. Patriot system downed a Russian hypersonic missile

Patriot missile launchers acquired from the U.S. are seen deployed in Warsaw, Poland, in February. (Michal Dyjuk/AP)

Ukraine said Saturday that a U.S.-supplied Patriot battery was used to intercept an incoming Russian hypersonic missile over the capital, Kyiv, in what is believed to be the first downing of the sophisticated Russian weapon and Ukraine's first use of the U.S. defense system.

In a post on Telegram, Ukrainian Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk said the Patriot destroyed the Kinzhal, a type of missile that can travel up to ten times the speed of sound to evade air defenses.