With the launch of a Kinschal hypersonic missile, the Ukrainian armed forces could have achieved an important symbolic success in the Ukraine war.
Kyiv/Moscow – Ukraine has confirmed the launch of a Russian Kh-47M2 Kinschal hypersonic missile. This was announced by Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk, commander of the Ukrainian Airborne Forces, on the Telegram platform, calling it a "historic event". According to the Ukrainian Air Force, the hypersonic missile was brought down from the skies over Kyiv by a Patriot defense system on Friday night (May 5).
The Ukrainian news portal Defense Express reported on the launch and published photos of the damaged cruise missile. Initially, the information could not be independently verified. There was also no reaction from the Russian side.
Ukraine war: Putin's hypersonic missile was considered unstoppable
The eight-meter-long Kinschal rocket, whose name translates as "dagger" in German, is considered particularly difficult to intercept due to its speed and high altitude. According to Ukrainian intelligence, it can be assumed that only a few dozen of the sophisticated Kh-47M2 Kinschal missiles are currently in Russia's arsenal.
MiG-31 interceptor of the Russian Air Force with a ballistic air-to-surface missile "Kinschal" Kh-47M2 (archive photo) © Pavel Golovkin/dpa
Russian President Vladimir Putin first presented the Kinschal hypersonic missile in March 2018 as part of the Russian Air Force: with the new missile model, it is possible "to overcome all existing and, I believe, future anti-aircraft and missile defense systems and to transport nuclear and conventional warheads over a range of more than 2,000 kilometers."
Missile launch would be a symbolic success for Ukraine
Western analysts of the CSIS Missle Defense Project believe that the Kh-47M2 Kinschal was designed to attack critical European infrastructure and overcome high-tech missile defense systems. In mid-April, the first Patriot systems were delivered to Ukraine. Patriot is considered the most modern anti-aircraft system in the United States.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had stressed that the system would "significantly" strengthen the defense against Russian attacks. If the Ukrainian air defense actually succeeded in launching the hypersonic missile, it would not only be a military success, but also an important symbolic success. Russian authorities have not yet confirmed the downing
Hypersonic missile followed drone strike in Moscow
According to Ukrainian sources, the projectile was part of a series of Russian missile and drone attacks on the night of Thursday to Friday, May 5. The attack was a reaction to the fact that two drones had exploded in Moscow the day before. The Russian authorities speak of a "terrorist act" by Ukraine. So far, however, it is unclear whether the incident was really a Ukrainian attack or a self-staged attack by Russia. (aa/dpa)
