Whipple shields might succeed in protecting the important parts of the spacecraft, but the kinetic energy of the projectile is still getting absorbed no matter

Whipple shields might succeed in protecting the important parts of the spacecraft, but the kinetic energy of the projectile is still getting absorbed no matter how great your armor is -- and if a spacecraft lacks the propulsion needed to correct its orbit afterward, then there's nothing it can do to defend itself. What good is being intact if your orbit has been irreparably destabilized? (Apart from giving crew some time to abandon a station via their "lifeboats".)