Kyiv Claims Successful Interception Of Russian Hypersonic Missiles

Kyiv claims successful interception of Russian hypersonic missiles in one night, countering Russia's claims that the missiles were unstoppable. However, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu rejected the Ukrainian claim and stated that a Kinzhal missile had destroyed a U.S.-made Patriot surface-to-air missile defense system.

According to the statement:

According to two U.S. officials, it is likely that a Patriot system in Ukraine sustained some damage but was not completely destroyed. They added that discussions were underway to repair the system and it did not seem necessary to remove it from Ukraine.

Previously, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, the commander-in-chief of Ukraine's armed forces, claimed that his forces had intercepted six Kinzhal missiles launched from aircraft, along with nine Kalibr cruise missiles fired from ships in the Black Sea and three Iskander missiles launched from land.

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Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu stated that the number of Ukrainian missile intercept claims is three times higher than the number of missiles Russia launches. He also criticized Ukraine for frequently misidentifying the types of missiles, implying that this is why they are unable to successfully intercept them.

If confirmed, Ukraine's claim of intercepting a volley of multiple Kinzhal missiles would demonstrate the effectiveness of its newly deployed Western air defenses. Since Russia's invasion in February 2022, the United States and the European Union have been providing Ukraine with weaponry for self-defense.

However, EU and NATO member Hungary has refused to supply military equipment to Ukraine. Furthermore, Hungary's government announced on Tuesday that it had blocked the next installment of the EU's off-budget military support, known as the European Peace Facility.

Air raid sirens were sounded throughout nearly all of Ukraine in the early hours of Tuesday, continuing for over three hours. The sirens could be heard in the capital city of Ukraine and the surrounding region.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an address to the Council of Europe rights body in Iceland by video link:

European leaders convened over a two-day meeting with the objective of addressing Russia's actions in the war and discussing strategies to hold Russia accountable, according to officials.

Russia justifies its invasion by citing concerns about Ukraine's increasing alignment with the West, claiming that it posed a threat to its own security.

Ukraine and its allies characterize the conflict as an unprovoked war of conquest, with Ukraine firmly stating that it will continue to resist until all Russian forces withdraw from its territory.

Flashes Of Light And Debris

According to Ukraine's military evening update on Tuesday, Russia launched a total of 27 missiles at Ukraine within a span of 24 hours, with the six Kinzhal missiles being among them. The explosions from intercepting the missiles illuminated Kyiv and resulted in debris falling from the sky.

The specific Western weapon utilized by Ukraine to defend against the Kinzhal missiles remains uncertain, and the Pentagon had no immediate comment on the matter.

The defense ministry of Russia stated that its forces launched a focused attack using long-range air and sea-based high-precision weapons against Ukrainian forces. Additionally, the attack targeted locations where ammunition, weapons, and military equipment supplied by Western countries were stored.

According to authorities in Kyiv, three individuals sustained injuries from falling debris during the missile attack. Serhiy Popko, head of the city military administration, described the attack as exceptionally intense, with a high number of missiles launched within a short time frame, in a statement on Telegram.

In addition, Ukraine's military reported that infrastructure in Kostyantynivka, located west of the embattled eastern city of Bakhmut, was targeted by two S-300 missiles.

Hypersonic Speed?

Earlier this month, Ukraine announced the successful interception of a single Kinzhal missile over Kyiv using a recently deployed Patriot system. The U.S. military confirmed the interception but did not provide details regarding whether the Russian missile was flying at hypersonic speed during the incident.

According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) based in the United States, the Kinzhal missile undergoes rapid acceleration after launch, reaching speeds of up to Mach 4 (4,900 km/h), with the potential to reach speeds of up to Mach 10. Hypersonic weapons generally travel at speeds at least five times the speed of sound.

Named "Kinzhal," meaning dagger, the missile is capable of carrying conventional or nuclear warheads with a range of up to 2,000 km. Russia deployed the Kinzhal missile in the conflict in Ukraine for the first time last year, although they have acknowledged firing them only on a few occasions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has often presented the Kinzhal missile as a demonstration of Russia's superior military capabilities, emphasizing its ability to confront NATO forces.

As Ukraine prepares to launch a counteroffensive against the Russian invasion after a six-month period, Russian forces are conducting air strikes with longer-range missiles more frequently than ever before in the conflict.

Ukraine claims to have successfully intercepted the majority of missiles and drones launched by Russia.

About The Authors

Hilda Workman - Hilda Workman is a licensed financial advisor with years of expertise in the industry. She has assisted a range of clients, from sole proprietors to large corporations, in reaching their financial objectives. She is informed about many different financial subjects, including tax preparation, investment planning and also in fashion. She believes that the best things are those that are imperfect.