How Russian missiles reach Ternopil and Lviv: Expert explains air defense gaps

Russia’s latest ruthless strike on Ternopil and Lviv has renewed questions about the strength of Ukraine’s air defenses. Kh-101 cruise missiles swept deep across Ukraine, leaving devastation and numerous casualties in their path — including a direct hit on a residential high-rise in Ternopil.

Military analyst Vasyl Pekhno broke down how Russian missiles are able to cover such vast distances and slip past Ukraine’s air defenses on their route to the country’s west.

The expert says the key reason for the missile breakthrough lies in the structure of Ukraine’s air defense system.

«The point is that our air defense system is quite localized. This is because we are a large country and lack the necessary resources,» Vasyl Pekhno explained.

Ukraine does not have the capacity to blanket its entire territory with air-defense systems — especially expensive platforms like Patriot. Instead, defenses are clustered around major cities and critical infrastructure.

How the enemy evades radar

Pekhno noted that Russian missiles move through so‑called «corridors, ” allowing them to bypass major air‑defense nodes. At the same time, most interceptions occur only when the missiles are already approaching their targets, since there simply aren’t enough systems to protect the entire route.

Moreover, Russian forces are using a tactic of flying missiles and drones at extremely low altitudes — sometimes just 100 meters above sea level or even lower — keeping them out of reach of Ukrainian radar.

The analyst stressed that these low-flying threats carry a serious terror risk for residents, as they can hit high-rise buildings up to 18–20 floors tall.