Russia has deployed a hypersonic Zircon missile for the first time during the war against Ukraine. This was reported by the Ukrainian Institute of Forensic Research. Director Oleksandr Ruvin says the rocket was used to target Kiev on February 7. In recent years, Putin has threatened that no country has a weapon as powerful as the Zircon. It is said to be nine times faster than sound and has a range of 1,000 kilometers.
LOOK. According to Ukraine, these debris show that Russia has deployed a hypersonic Zircon missile
Oleksandr Ruvin reports the use of the Zircon hypersonic missile on his Telegram channel. He included a video of alleged missile debris with specific markings. “In this case we see elements characteristic of the 3M22 Zircon rocket. Parts and fragments of the engine and steering mechanisms have specific markings,” Ruvin wrote.
Ruvin’s statement did not say whether the weapon was fired from land or sea. He did say that markings found on the wreckage indicate the weapon was recently assembled.
Attack on February 7
It is not clear whether there were any casualties in the Zircon missile attack in Kiev. However, on February 7, at least five people were killed in Kiev in Russian air strikes that damaged residential buildings and energy infrastructure.
Anton Gerashchenko, former Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs in Ukraine, also reported on February 7 that Russia may have deployed a 3M22 Zircon missile.
The Russian Defense Ministry did not respond to a request for comment, according to Reuters.
Nine times faster than sound
The Zircon has a range of 1,000 km (625 miles) and flies nine times the speed of sound, according to Russia. Military analysts argue that this hypersonic speed greatly reduces the reaction time for air defenses, allowing Russia to strike targets far into Ukraine (or beyond).
Russia has been testing Zircon-type missiles since 2017 and Vladimir Putin himself proposed the hypersonic weapon in January 2023. “No country has an equally powerful weapon,” it was said at the time.
LOOK. Putin: “No country has an equally powerful weapon”
LOOK. Why is the Russian ‘Zirkon’ missile so dangerous?
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and never miss anything from the stars.