Denys is a unit commander equipped with the Patriot surface-to-air missile system.

The story was shared on Facebook by the Western Air Command of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Patriot is a mobile medium-range air defense system.

“We have destroyed eight aerial targets — enemy missiles of various types. The Patriot SAM is an effective weapon designed to destroy various modifications of enemy aerial targets”, —  the officer said.

According to him, fighters never know in advance which direction they will be working in next week. East, south, center, west — there is work everywhere.

“We move covertly and unnoticed by curious eyes. We always have several positions and set up decoy ones. We carefully study each new position area and always remember that our SAM system is a priority target for the enemy”, —  Denys said.

Air defense combat is far more than launching a missile. It is collective work, where the result depends on the professionalism of many people and unit cohesion.

Denys’s team conducted its most effective air defense engagement near Pavlohrad in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

“Then the enemy used ballistic and cruise missiles and strike drones. Four aerial targets were moving in our direction. We destroyed three, and one was destroyed by an adjacent unit”, —  Denys recalled.

Denys has come a long professional way in air defense missile troops. His first weapon was the S-300 SAM system; later he mastered IRIS-T and Patriot systems.

In his opinion, the key to success is not only technology but people.

“I am glad to perform tasks as part of a strong, motivated team of professionals. By the way, 90 percent of servicemen in our unit are mobilized citizens of Ukraine”, —  the officer emphasized.

They all train and fight with full dedication, because every downed enemy missile means saved lives and protected critical infrastructure.