WSJ: Ukrainian electronic warfare system "Lima" diverted two Russian ballistic missiles from Kyiv government facility
According to The Wall Street Journal, Ukraine's "Lima" electronic warfare system, operated by the "Nichtna Varta" (Night Watch) unit, diverted two Russian ballistic missiles that were heading toward an important government facility in Kyiv, causing them to fall into the Dnipro river. Several Ukrainian and Western air-defense experts confirmed to WSJ that systems like "Lima" can disrupt ballistic attacks, though electronic warfare cannot fully replace Patriot interceptors.
Key points
- WSJ reported that two Russian ballistic missiles heading to a Kyiv government facility were diverted by the "Lima" system and fell into the Dnipro
- The "Lima" system is operated by Ukraine's electronic warfare unit "Nichtna Varta" (Night Watch) and made by the Ukrainian company Cascade
- "Lima" uses spoofing — flooding the airwaves with false navigation signals — to disorient incoming missiles
- Around the time of the attack, navigation apps on many Kyiv phones showed users as located in Peru; WSJ described this as an "electronic calling card" of "Nichtna Varta"
- A "Nichtna Varta" major with the callsign "Alkhimik" said the system can jam drones, missiles and guided aerial bombs at a range of about 193 km
- Electronic warfare cannot fully replace Patriot interceptors, and ballistic missiles remain among the hardest targets for Ukrainian air defense
- Russia has been increasing the number of Chinese CRPA antennas on its missiles and drones — from four to currently 32 — to detect and bypass jamming; Ukraine responded with the "Lima Quant" upgrade
Why it matters
The incident demonstrates a non-kinetic Ukrainian capability against ballistic missiles, which are normally among the hardest targets for air defense because of their high speed and flight trajectory. It also highlights the spoofing method behind "Lima" — the same technique that produces visible side effects on civilian navigation apps in Kyiv, briefly placing users in Peru. At the same time, experts caution that electronic warfare cannot fully replace Patriot interceptors. The case is part of an ongoing technological arms race: after Ukraine discovered in late 2024 that Russia was installing Chinese CRPA antennas to identify and bypass jamming sources, the "Lima" developers built the "Lima Quant" upgrade in three months, even as Russia increased the number of those antennas on its weapons from four to 32.
What happened
The Wall Street Journal, citing the Ukrainian military, reported that in 2026 two Russian ballistic missiles heading toward an important government facility in Kyiv were diverted by Ukraine's "Lima" electronic warfare system. The missiles fell into the Dnipro river instead of striking their target. "Lima" is operated by the "Nichtna Varta" (Night Watch) electronic warfare unit and is produced by the Ukrainian company Cascade. During the attack, the system filled the airwaves with false signals — a method called spoofing — to disorient the missiles. Around the same time, navigation apps on many phones in Kyiv showed users as being in Peru; WSJ described this as a kind of "electronic calling card" of the unit's work. Several Ukrainian and Western air-defense experts confirmed to WSJ that systems like "Lima" are capable of disrupting ballistic attacks, though they noted that electronic warfare cannot fully replace Patriot interceptors. In November 2025, the same unit reported using "Lima" to intercept a Russian "Kinzhal" hypersonic missile, which it said changed course under the influence of a false navigation signal and broke apart under its own speed.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Both Ukrainian-language sources frame the diversion as a successful rescue of a government facility in Kyiv, emphasizing the role of the Ukrainian "Lima" system and the "Nichtna Varta" unit. Their headlines stress the visual spectacle of two missiles being "drowned in the Dnipro" rather than the technical limits of electronic warfare.
Background
The "Lima" system is made by the Ukrainian company Cascade and is operated by the "Nichtna Varta" electronic warfare unit. A major in the unit with the callsign "Alkhimik" said the system can jam drones, missiles and guided aerial bombs at a range of about 193 km. "Lima" disrupts targets by filling the airwaves with false navigation signals, a technique that can also cause phones in Kyiv to briefly appear to be in Peru. In late 2024 Ukraine discovered that Russia was installing Chinese CRPA antennas on missiles and drones to identify and bypass jamming; Russia has since increased the number of such antennas from four to 32. Ukrainian manufacturer Phantom Defense says its systems detected more than 11,500 Russian drones in the past year, with about 7,500 neutralized. The commander of the Third Army Corps told LIGA.net that during the "Vivaldi" offensive operation, air defense and electronic warfare helped destroy about 10,000 Russian drones. American General Hodges has said the West is surprised by Ukrainians' use of drones in electronic warfare.