All articles tagged with #kinzhal missiles
ISW analysts say Ukraine is now targeting Russian ballistic-missile launch facilities, focusing on deployment and training sites to counter a shortage of air and missile defenses, with the Aug. 15 strike on Savasleyka airbase illustrating the tactic.
Russia launched four hypersonic Kinzhal missiles at Ukraine, damaging a children's hospital in Kyiv and killing an 8-year-old boy in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. One missile was destroyed by Ukrainian air defenses, while the others hit civil infrastructure and a residential area. Debris fell on the hospital grounds and a private house, but no injuries were reported in Kyiv. Since February 2022, Russia has regularly attacked Ukraine with Kinzhal missiles, which are difficult to defend against due to their hypersonic speed and maneuverability. Ukraine has managed to shoot down several Kinzhal missiles using U.S.-made Patriot air-defense systems.
Ukraine claims that Russia fired Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones at targets in Odesa and Kryvy Rih, causing damage to critical infrastructure facilities and at least 10 homes. Ukrainian air defenses downed three of the four drones fired in the overnight attack. Russia has been carrying out long-distance missile and drone attacks since October, and increased strikes in May as Ukraine prepared for a counteroffensive.
Ukraine's defense ministry announced that its Storm Shadow long-range missiles, given by Britain, have hit all their Russian targets. The missiles have a range of over 155 miles, making them a valuable addition to Ukraine's military technology. However, Russia claims to have intercepted two of the Storm Shadow missiles, along with other weapons. The strikes come ahead of Ukraine's counter-offensive to reclaim occupied territory, and the possession of the missiles is predicted to have a negative impact on Russian morale.
Three Russian scientists involved in the development of Russia's Kinzhal missiles have been arrested on charges of treason, sparking fear among Russian researchers. The scientists are accused of revealing state secrets on missile technology, a charge that carries up to 20 years in prison. The arrests have had a chilling effect on research, with younger scientists being deterred from pursuing similar research. The Kinzhal missiles are among the most prized weapons in the Russian military's arsenal and are often falsely described as hypersonic.
Russia is targeting Ukraine's improved air defense systems after Ukraine shot down Kinzhal missiles that Russia claimed were unstoppable. The UK MOD said that Russia has prioritized attempts to neutralize Ukraine's improved air defense capabilities after it "achieved the first ever shoot-down of a KILLJOY air-launched ballistic missile." Russia claimed it destroyed one Patriot air defense system, but US officials said it was still operational. Ukraine's air defenses, which include missile systems from the UK and other countries, have stopped many of Russia's attacks.
Ukrainian air defenses, aided by Western-supplied systems, shot down all missiles aimed at Kyiv during an intense Russian air attack on Tuesday, including six Kinzhal aero-ballistic hypersonic missiles. The attack, which targeted locations across Ukraine, included 27 missiles and 37 airstrikes. The bombardment came as European leaders sought new ways to punish Russia for the war and a Chinese envoy sought traction for Beijing’s peace proposal. It also came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy returned home from a European tour to seek more military aid.
Ukraine claims to have shot down all six "unstoppable" hypersonic Kinzhal missiles launched by Russia at Kyiv, along with other missiles launched from land and sea. This would be a significant win for Western air defense systems, and suggests that the Kinzhal missile may not be as unstoppable as claimed by Russia.