KYIV, — Ukraine's locally developed Lima Quant electronic warfare system reportedly diverted two Russian Oreshnik ballistic missiles targeting the Kyiv region during an attack on May 24, 2026, according to Ukrainian military personnel and developers cited by The New York Times.
A commander of Ukraine's Night Watch territorial defence unit, using the call sign Alchemist, said the unit received advance warning of the launch from U.S. intelligence. An operator then activated Lima Quant to interfere with the missiles' navigation systems.
According to the commander, one missile struck garages near Bila Tserkva, around 80 kilometres south of Kyiv, away from its intended military target. The second broke apart in flight, with debris falling in Russian-occupied Donetsk. Ukrainian emergency services reported damage to three garages and an enterprise building. No casualties were reported. The New York Times said it could not independently verify the interception claims.
How Lima Quant Works
Developed by Cascade Systems with Ukraine's military, Lima Quant uses electromagnetic signals and GPS spoofing to interfere with the navigation of incoming missiles and drones. Instead of simply blocking GPS signals, it transmits false coordinates, directing affected navigation systems to Lima, Peru, more than 12,000 kilometres from Kyiv.
An advanced version was deployed around Kyiv in August 2025, using networked antennas to create electromagnetic coverage against aerial threats.
Civilian GPS Disruptions and System Performance
The spoofing also affects civilian devices. Kyiv residents have reported taxi applications calculating journeys of 12,276 minutes, Garmin watches recording runs in Lima, and BMW navigation systems showing apparent journeys of 10,000 kilometres.
Cascade Systems claims the technology diverted more than 30 cruise missiles and 10,000 drones during the first three months of 2026. Alchemist also claimed that 33 of 62 Russian Kinzhal missiles fired into areas covered by Lima Quant broke apart in midair, while others were diverted. These figures have not been independently verified.
Russia has reportedly adapted some weapons with Chinese antennas designed to detect and avoid electronic jamming. In response, Cascade Systems and Night Watch have updated Lima Quant by combining GPS spoofing with additional high-frequency signals.
With Ukraine facing shortages of conventional air-defence interceptors, Lima Quant provides another layer of protection against Russian aerial attacks. However, its reported interception figures remain subject to independent verification.
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