Why do Russian missiles arrive before Ukrainian warning sirens?

On July 14, Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to the Ukrainian defense minister, publicly explained the delay in air defense systems during Russian ballistic missile attacks on Kiev.

Russia has intensified its attacks on the capital in recent months, using a new airstrike strategy. Ukraine is running out of Patriot missiles, which means it cannot shoot down all of Russia’s Zircon, Kinzhal, and Iskander missiles. The Kyiv Independent reported that during the July 11 attack, journalists heard explosions before the sirens went off two minutes later.

According to Beskrestnov, a missile reaches Kiev in 2 to 4 minutes, which limits the time it takes to give a warning. He noted that all information about missile launches or their preparations comes from partners, mainly through satellite tracking and systems that record launch data. System failures or transmission delays can cause a warning to be delayed.

Beskrestnov also explained that satellite tracking can also cause false alarms, as satellites detect activity on launch pads that precede missile launches, but the launches themselves may not occur for some reason.

June 2026 was one of the deadliest months for Ukrainian civilians since the start of a full-scale invasion, driven by increased Russian ballistic missile attacks on urban centers. Without Patriot systems, alarm systems are one of the last lines of defense between civilians and Russian aerial terror.