An open letter calls for the release of three Russian rocket scientists – the Kremlin continues to insist on its charges.
Moscow – For Russia, the Kremlin and Vladimir Putin, there was a bitter blow at the beginning of May: In a Russian missile attack, the Kinschal hypersonic missile, which is considered unstoppable, was intercepted over the sky of Kyiv. The success, described by the Ukrainian Air Force as a "historic event", is thanks to the Western Patriot defense system. In the meantime, six more Kinschal missiles are said to have been shot down.
In Moscow, the mood is boiling after the fatal defeat. In the morally stricken capital, three scientists now have to pay for the military failure. Last year, several rocket experts were arrested on charges of high treason. All three were involved in the development of the Russian prestige weapon of the Kinschal type.
Images show how a MiG-31 fighter jet is loaded with a Kinschal hypersonic missile. (Archive photo) © Russian Defense Ministry Press/dpa
Russia's miracle weapon sabotaged? Open letter to help scientists
Until now, the Russian hypersonic missiles were considered the pinnacle of military warfare technology. Putin himself had described the Kinschal missiles as "unstoppable" when they were unveiled in March 2018. The new missile model is capable of "overcoming all existing and, I believe, future anti-aircraft and missile defense systems," it said at the time. With the latest developments in the Ukraine war, these theses have been cleared off the table.
According to the Kremlin, three specialists in hypersonic technology are to blame for the failed missile strikes. Scientists Alexander Shiplyuk, Anatoly Maslov and Valery Swegintsev had participated in the construction of the Kinschal missiles and were arrested in October last year on suspicion of revealing state secrets about Russian missile technologies. Another scientist from Siberia, Dmitri Kolker, succumbed to cancer in 2022 a few days after his arrest.
In an open letter from the staff of the institute in the Siberian branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the three rocket scientists have now been defended by their colleagues. "We know each of them as patriots and as decent people who are incapable of such acts of which the authorities suspect them," reads the letter, which was published on Monday (15 May).
"Serious allegations": Russian rocket scientists remain in custody
The letter goes on to say that Shiplyuk, Maslov and Swegintsev did not reveal any secrets during scientific exchanges in publications and at conferences. If such an exchange is already classified as high treason, aviation research would be endangered. "In this situation, we are not only worried about the fate of our colleagues. We simply don't know how to continue our work." In addition, talented young scientists would be deterred by the Kremlin's accusations.
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Kinschal Rocket
The Kh-47M2 Kinschal missiles are part of the hypersonic arsenal of weapons of the Russian Federation. With a length of about seven meters and a weight of more than a ton, the rocket is comparatively compact. Due to their high altitude, high speed and flexible maneuverability, Kinschal missiles are difficult to detect and intercept by anti-aircraft systems.
Moscow reacted coolly to the demands of the Russian Academy. Dmitry Peskov, Putin's press secretary, rejected the criticism and spoke only of the fact that the letter had been noted. Russian special forces would continue to deal with the cases, they were still "serious allegations" against the three scientists. The defendants remain in custody.
It is unclear whether Shiplyuk, Maslov and Swegintsev actually passed on secrets that made it possible to intercept hypersonic missiles, as the prosecution alleges. With regard to the Kremlin's reaction, the Russian leadership seems to be sticking to its suspicions. (aa)