A report released on Monday indicated that Russia has deployed a new hypersonic weapon system to the Ukrainian battlefield.
Росія 7 лютого застосувала на території України гіперзвукову крилату ракету 3М22 "Циркон" pic.twitter.com/rMGpjQOxxE
— Українська правда ✌️ (@ukrpravda_news) February 12, 2024
The Director of the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute for Forensic Examinations, Oleksandr Ruvin, identified exploded ordnance remains from a Feb. 7 attack as belonging to a 3M22 Zircon hypersonic cruise missile. It was the first report of its use amid the two-year war.
The incursion was reported to have killed five persons and damaged several residential buildings.
Russian officials have not commented on the findings but have in the past described the platform as having been added to their inventories in 2023, with a maximum range of 1,500 km, a warhead carrying capability of up to 400 kg, and a flight speed reaching nine times the speed of sound. The projectile was originally designed for use in anti-ship operations.
Some experts in Ukraine questioned the missile’s claimed technical specifications after the wreckage underwent examination.
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