On the night of May 14, 2026, Ukraine's air defense system failed to intercept Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, which, according to sources, were targeting the Starokostiantyniv airbase. Unlike Kh-101 cruise missiles, Iskander ballistic missiles, and drone swarms, which the Ukrainian command reported shooting down in significant numbers, the Kinzhal missiles' passage went undetected by the air defenses. This information was cited by the publication VNExpress.

According to Ukrainian Air Force reports and official statements, last night was one of the heaviest in terms of the density of attacks. Russian forces employed combined tactics, launching a record number of drones and missiles of various types.

The main targets of these strikes were military infrastructure facilities, including military airfields, defense industry enterprises, and energy and transport infrastructure facilities supporting the Ukrainian Armed Forces. According to OSINT analysts, three Kinzhal missiles were aimed at a military airfield in Starokostiantyniv, Khmelnytskyi Oblast. This airfield has long been associated with the basing of Ukrainian aircraft carrying Western missiles, as well as with the preparation of infrastructure for the possible deployment of F-16 fighter jets.

The consequences of the attack were severe for both military and critical infrastructure.

The night attack on May 14 demonstrated that, despite the high effectiveness of Western air defense systems against cruise missiles and drones, hypersonic weapons remain a critically challenging target. Kinzhal missiles have proven their ability to penetrate defenses and strike strategic targets protected by air defenses, with a high probability of overcoming interception systems. Ukraine's lack of reconnaissance and surveillance systems capable of tracking hypersonic targets in real time at supersonic speeds makes predicting such strikes extremely difficult.