This file photo taken in May 2018 shows Russia's MiG-31 supersonic interceptor jets carrying hypersonic Kinzhal (Dagger) missiles flying over Red Square. Picture: AFP
Moscow has admitted using advanced hypersonic missiles for the first time in the Ukraine invasion, sparking fresh concerns of brutal tactics.
As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine enters its 24th day, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s outfit at a pro-war rally has raised eyebrows among critics.
Meanwhile, British intelligence has concluded that Russia’s operations “have changed”, and it is now pursuing a “strategy of attrition”.
The fighting has now reached the city centre of Mariupol, in the country’s south, which has been enduring bombardment for days on end. Russia says it is “tightening the noose” on the city of 430,000.
And elsewhere, US President Joe Biden has spoken to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, warning of the “consequences” China will face if it aids Russia.
It comes as the UN Migration Agency puts the number of Ukrainians displaced in their own country because of the war at 6.5 million. A further 3.2 million Ukrainians have fled overseas, with the majority of them — 2 million — now in neighbouring Poland.
The death toll is still not known but Russia has fired 1,080 missiles at Ukraine since the conflict began on February 24, a senior US defence official told BBC.
Russia admits using horror missiles
Moscow has admitted using advanced hypersonic missiles for the first time in the Ukraine invasion, sparking fresh concerns about the nation’s brutal tactics.
According to AFP, Russia confirmed the use of the Kinzhal – which means Dagger – high-precision hypersonic missile, which can evade most defence systems, to destroy a Ukrainian arms depot.
“The Kinzhal aviation missile system with hypersonic aeroballistic missiles destroyed a large underground warehouse containing missiles and aviation ammunition in the village of Deliatyn in the Ivano-Frankivsk region,” the Russian defence ministry said on Saturday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously described the missile as “an ideal weapon” which travels at 10 times the speed of sound.
The nuclear-capable air-launched ballistic missile can carry a nuclear payload of 480kg.
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