With Moscow continuing its onslaught of nighttime missile attacks on Ukrainian targets, Ukraine has been heavily relying on its German-made IRIS-T air defense system.
New footage has emerged showing the short-range infrared homing air-to-air missile system tracking and intercepting inbound Russian cruise missiles.
The IRIS-T was developed in Germany to replace the AIM-9 Sidewinder.
Intense footage of the interception of two Russian cruise missiles by German-supplied IRIS-T air defense system operated by the Armed Forces of Ukraine during a Russian aerial attack on December 6, 2025.
One of the missiles appears to have been deploying chaff/flares/decoys just… pic.twitter.com/q0LPmyRBJ2
— Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (@Archer83Able) December 6, 2025The system is particularly effective against low-flying cruise missiles, drones and other military aircraft, and is currently one of the most advanced air defense weapons in the German armed forces.
Germany has so far delivered around eight complete IRIS-T systems to Ukraine, according to Portfolio. The price of a single IRIS-T missile is approximately €400,000, with the medium-range version hitting €560,000 and those with extended range costing as much as €900,000.
On Dec. 6, the Ukrainian Air Force posted on X that it had downed 585 drones, 29 cruise missiles, and one ballistic missile.
On the night of December 06, Russia launched a massive air attack targeting Ukraine’s critical infrastructure. The aggressor used 704 air attack assets: 653 Shahed-type UAVs,51 cruise and ballistic missiles.
Ukrainian air defenders shot down 615 targets:
◾️585 enemy UAVs
◾️29… pic.twitter.com/Fco6lLe6nn
— Ukrainian Air Force (@KpsZSU) December 6, 2025Meanwhile, U.S. and Ukrainian negotiating teams insisted that peace can only be achieved with a show of good faith by Moscow.
Although Russian forces continue to create logistics challenges for Kyiv in the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad area, Kyiv insists the area is still not under Russian control. One former soldier and now supply runner for Ukrainian forces on the front says Pokrovsk remains a neutral or “gray” zone. Online accounts are busy posting numerous contradicting narratives, from Russian forces have finally surrounded the key logistics hub to Ukrainian troops are clearing out Russians from the area.
