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Putin uses deadly hypersonic missiles for first time ever as Ukraine war takes dark turn
Ukraine for the first time ever, as the conflict in Ukraine takes a dark turn.The Russian military says it used the Kinzhal hypersonic missile to destroy an underground ammunition depot in Delyatyn, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, according to local news outlet Zvezda.Details about the operation remain scarce, but Russia has previously bragged about its hypersonic weapons arsenal.Missiles such as the 3M22 Zircon are said to be so fast and able to fly so low that they evade traditional anti-missile defence systems.Such weapons are believed to have a range of around 1,000 kilometres, military.com reports.TV Zvezda - a channel owned by the Russian defence ministry - said of footage of a similar missile last week: “The Russian Zircon hypersonic missile's stealth features have been disclosed…“The speed of the Zircon hypersonic missile is so high that it prevents the opponent's air defence system from detecting its impact in time.“In fact, its launch will be known only after the target has been hit.”The missile also has “variable trajectory” to avoid detection, viewers were told.“No one will see the missile launch or its flight. They will only see when the missile hits the target,” said the frigate’s commander, first rank captain Igor Krokhmal.The Kremlin had previously branded the deadly weapon, which carries a conventional or nuclear warhead, “unstoppable”.In the early hours of 24 February Putin warned of “consequences that you have never faced in your history”, perhaps touting the use of such extreme weaponry.
