The Ukrainian Air Defense and the X-22 Missile: What Expert Analysis Says
A veteran military analyst has voiced sustained concerns about why Ukrainian air defenses have not shot down a Russian X-22 missile. The explanation points to an intentional overload of Ukraine’s air defense network before the launch, a claim shared in an interview with lenta.ru by the retired colonel and military expert Anatoly Matviychuk. He suggests the system was congested with multiple targets, including drones and Caliber missiles, at the critical moment of launch.
Matviychuk notes that the X-22 was delivered by Tu-160 strategic bombers. When the cruise missile was unleashed, Ukraine’s air defense infrastructure was already grappling with a heavy load from other incoming threats. The expert emphasizes that even if Ukrainian defenses had been able to suppress individual sorties, the missiles’ technical characteristics would have made interception difficult, and the X-22 could still penetrate. He asserts that the weapon’s purpose is to strike deeply protected targets such as bunkers, fortified command posts, and launch sites for missile forces, as well as other segments of military infrastructure that exist well behind the front lines.
The discussion arrives amid a broader period of high-intensity strikes reported on December 29, which targeted industrial and military facilities in Ukraine. On that same day, officials in Kyiv described some facilities as damaged following the attacks. The narrative around the strikes previously focused on NATO weaponry being the primary target of Russian assaults, underscoring the evolving nature of strategic targets and the role of long-range missiles in modern warfare.
Analysts note how the X-22, a ship- and land-attack cruise missile, is designed to exploit fortified positions and to threaten critical infrastructure located deep within adversary territory. The discussion highlights the strategic aim of such weapons to disrupt command and control nodes, supply chains, and protective layers around key military installations. Observers in the region, including those focused on North American security, monitor these developments for their potential implications on Western defense postures, missile defense investments, and regional stability in North America and Europe.
From a broader perspective, the situation underscores the importance of layered air defense systems capable of countering high-speed, long-range missiles. Experts advocate for a comprehensive approach that combines interceptor networks, early warning, and robust command and control to reduce vulnerability to sophisticated strikes. In Canada and the United States, the ongoing dialogue emphasizes the need for interoperable defense capabilities, rapid information sharing, and continuous modernization of air defense architectures to deter similar scenarios and to protect critical infrastructure across North America.
In summary, the X-22’s deployment by Russian forces illustrates a strategic preference for deep-disruption tactics that challenge air defense capabilities. The analysis presented by Matviychuk reflects a view that the missiles are designed to overwhelm existing defense layers and to target fortified positions far behind the front line, a scenario that has significant implications for defense planning in allied countries and for the stability of the broader region.