Russia uses hypersonic missiles in Ukraine for first time, strikes large weapons depot

Russia said on Saturday it had used hypersonic Kinzhal (Dagger) missiles to destroy a large weapons depot in Ukraine’s western Ivano-Frankivsk region.

Russia’s Interfax news agency said it was the first time Russia had deployed the hypersonic Kinzhal system since it sent its troops into Ukraine on February 24. Defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said the underground depot hit by the Kinzhal system on Friday housed Ukrainian missiles and aircraft ammunition, according to Russian news agencies. A spokesperson for Ukraine’s air force command confirmed a Russian missile strike on Delyatyn in the region, without giving further details. The Pentagon said the US couldn’t confirm that the Russians used a hypersonic missile.

Hypersonics, generally defined as weapons capable of flying at speeds over Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound, are at the centre of an arms race among the US, Russia and China. Russia prides itself on its advanced weaponry, and President Putin said in December that Russia was the global leader in hypersonic missiles, whose speed, manoeuvrability and altitude make them difficult to track and intercept.