The Skynex air defense system, supplied by Germany to Ukraine, demonstrated its effectiveness by shooting down 12 Russian aerial targets in a single action.
According to the Western Air Command of the Ukrainian Air Force, the result included the destruction of one cruise missile and 11 Shahed kamikaze drones, frequently used by Moscow in attacks against the country’s cities and infrastructure.
The achievement was highlighted by Andriy, commander of a Ukrainian anti-aircraft battery, who said his unit has already eliminated around 35 Shahed drones and two cruise missiles since it began operating the system. A veteran of combat in Chernihiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and even Russia’s Kursk region, the serviceman revealed that he learned to use the Skynex under real combat conditions.
Ukraine’s Armed Forces currently operate four Skynex systems delivered by Germany. Developed by Rheinmetall, the equipment is designed to defend strategic facilities and critical infrastructure, mainly countering drones, missiles and other short-range aerial threats.
Each battery consists of four 35 mm Oerlikon Mk3 automatic cannons, as well as integrated radar and command center systems. With an effective range of up to 4 kilometers and programmable AHEAD ammunition, the system is capable of detecting and engaging even small-sized targets, making it one of Ukraine’s key tools for protecting its airspace against Russian attacks.
❗️The Ukrainian Skynex anti-aircraft artillery complex destroyed 12 Russian aerial targets during a single air defense engagement. pic.twitter.com/C89Llr0gAZ
— 🪖MilitaryNewsUA🇺🇦 (@front_ukrainian) June 9, 2026
Source: Militarnyi | Photo: X @deaidua | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
