Russian Defense Minister Reports Successful Use of Hypersonic Missiles in Ukraine

The Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu remarked on the deployment of Kinzhal (Dagger) Hypersonic missiles in Ukraine. He lauded the abilities of the new super-fast missile and its qualities; to date, the US has not produced a similar missile yet, despite claims of tests.

Use of Dagger Next Generation Missiles in Ukraine

Shoigu verified that three of the ultra-fast missiles had been deployed in combat by Russian forces, reported RT.

He added that the three times it was launched, it surpassed any missile the Western nations produced, speaking to Russia 1 TV last Sunday.

The Kinzhal, or Dagger, entered service with Russian aerospace in 2017, capable of Mach 12 or 14,000 kph, and has an unpredictable trajectory that is unstoppable by any conventional missile defense. It can be armed with a nuclear warhead and is air-launched by Tu-22M3 bombers or MiG-31 interceptor aircraft capable of almost Mach 3, noted Oacoree.

The Ministry of Defense (MoD) said it fired the Dagger in the middle of March and wrecked a hidden Ukrainian arms depot close to Ivano-Frankovsk in western Ukraine. It is supposed to be the first time they fire it.

Vladimir Putin ordered the modernization of Russian missile systems by developing several Mach 5+ missile systems, including the Avangard glider used on Silo-firing ICBMs and the already-in-service Zircon missiles in service with the navy.

Sergey Shoigu added the utilization of the Su-57 next-generation Felon stealth fighter in Ukraine after the Air Force inducted it in 2020. It could also avoid detection by air defenses and have better chances against hypersonic missiles.

It mentioned that it has strong weapons, has been tested, and is reliable. The Kremlin recognized the Donbass republics as independent states in February 2022, and Ukraine was considered necessary to officially announce its neutrality and rejection of any Western defense pact.

Despite denied evidence that Zelensky ordered the overrun of the Donbass, Kyiv maintains that there was no reason for the Russian offensive.

Kinzhal-Equipped Interceptor Reinforcements

The MoD noted that recently, a trio of Mig-31 interceptors armed with the Dagger air-launched nuclear missiles was sent to the westernmost enclave of Kaliningrad. These air-to-surface missiles are meant to attack NATO-affiliated ground targets, citing Alarabiya.

Last Thursday, the ministry said the planes were relocated to Chkalovsk airfield in the Kaliningrad Region as part of additional strategic deterrence measures.

The Baltic Fleet's naval aviation and Russian forces stationed nearby were coordinated by the Mig-31s during their flight, it was added. Due to the nature of their deployment, these Migs were on 24/7 combat duty there, stated the Russian MoD.

Later, Thursday, Finland, a neighbor of Russia, asserted that the Mig-31 aircraft may have intruded over its airspace in the Gulf of Finland en route to their target destination. The event is the subject of an investigation, as stated by the Finnish Defense Ministry.

Iskander missiles with nuclear weapons capability are also stationed in Kaliningrad, which also borders Poland and Lithuania with access to the Baltic Sea.

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu called the Kinzhal hypersonic missiles a success and had shock value when they struck the Ukrainian target; even the US is hard to press to stop the Zircon missiles.