war in Ukraine
Moscow: First use of the hypersonic missile «Kinzhal»
A MiG-31 fighter armed with the new Kinzhal («Kinshal») hypersonic missile. Photo: RU-RTR Russian Television/AP/dpa/Archive
© dpa-infocom GmbH
So far, the hypersonic missile “Kinzhal” has been used primarily for manoeuvres. Now Russia has used the weapon in Ukraine for the first time – and according to Moscow, destroyed an underground ammunition depot.
According to information from Moscow, the Russian Air Force destroyed a missile arsenal in the Ivano-Frankivsk region with the hypersonic missile “Kinzhal” (Dagger) during its war against Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Air Force’s underground ammunition depot in Delyatyn in south-western Ukraine was destroyed by the ballistic missile yesterday. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konoshenkov said on Saturday. Two military reconnaissance bases were destroyed in the Odessa region on the Black Sea. The information could not be verified.
It is the first time since the beginning of the war that Russia has reported the use of its new air-to-surface ballistic missile “Kinzhal”. It was the first use in combat ever, it was said. So far, the weapons have been used primarily during maneuvers – most recently a few days before the invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24.
The “Kinzhal” missiles are fired by MiF-31 fighter jets. According to Russian information, they can hit targets at a distance of up to 2,000 kilometers – while bypassing all air defense systems. Hypersonic missiles exceed the speed of sound by several times and fly at more than 6000 kilometers per second.
Russia also justifies its war in Ukraine with the aim of demilitarizing the western-armed neighboring country. On the night of Saturday, 69 military objects, including four command bases in Ukraine, were destroyed, said Konashenkov. The Russian head of parliament, Vyacheslav Volodin, called on the United States and NATO countries to stop arming Ukraine “if they want peace as soon as possible”.