Russia claimed on Sunday that it struck two Patriot air defense launch systems and a radar station near the Black Sea port of Yuzhne using Iskander-M ballistic missiles.

However, Ukraine stated that Moscow had actually hit decoy targets designed to deplete expensive enemy missiles.

Ukraine’s air force commander, Mykola Oleshchuk, posted on Telegram that the targets were decoy Patriot systems.

Ukraine has previously used cheap decoys resembling expensive Western air defense and missile systems.

The highly effective Patriot systems, of which Ukraine has few, are top targets for Moscow, Reuters has reported.

Oleshchuk also mentioned that Russia hit decoy planes in a missile attack on a Ukrainian military airfield on Wednesday.

Reuters could not independently verify the claims from either side.

Written by B.C. Begley