Kinzhal Missile Launched Into Ukraine
Missile Launched Into Ukraine Among Russia’s dozens of missile attacks on Ukraine overnight were a few strikes that Ukrainian officials say have killed civilians. One of the missiles fired into Kyiv a Russian-made hypersonic weapon called a Kinzhal, which designed to reach 10 times the speed of sound.
While Russia has used Kinzhals in small numbers in the early stages of its invasion, it has rarely fired them at the same time as other weapons – and this is the first instance where it appears to have done so. The emergence of the Kinzhal suggests that Moscow is trying to draw attention to its next-generation hypersonic weapons, which it claims could be capable of hitting Western targets within minutes.
In addition to a few Kinzhals, Russia launched a large number of other missiles, including three long-range cruise missiles and a number of Iranian Shahed drones. The escalating military tensions between Kiev and Moscow likely the reason for Russia’s increased use of long-range missiles, which are easier to shoot down than short-range weapons.
The US and the European Union are urging Russia to stop the air raids, which are causing death and destruction in the war-torn eastern part of the country. “The attack an unambiguous message that Russia’s military actions not aimed at achieving its strategic goals. But to terrorize the people of Ukraine,” EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said in a statement on Tuesday.
Missile Launched Into Ukraine
On Thursday, Russia allegedly fired six Kinzhal missiles into a region near Lviv in central Ukraine – a rare instance of Russia using the highly sophisticated weapon in the fight against Kyiv. The weapons reportedly destroyed at least three residential buildings, according to local authorities.
As a result of the attack, several power plants in the region evacuated, and regional power outages lasted for more than 7 hours. Smoke lingered from the ruins of several buildings.
At least 11 people died and more than 20 injured during the attack on Wednesday, Ukrainian authorities said. The attack was the latest in a string of deadly air raids by Russia.
But the attacks are unlikely to lead to a major breakthrough in the conflict, experts say. They’re a reminder that the Kremlin’s limited stockpiles of nuclear-capable weapons mean that aerial attacks aren’t likely to win the war, even if they do intimidate Ukraine.
This is not to say that the United States shouldn’t continue to provide Ukraine with security assistance. It’s important to understand that a US-led military campaign against Russian forces will only be successful if Ukraine can defend itself from the ravages of a war.
That means developing an air force that can strike behind Russian lines and a special forces unit that can withstand the assault. Annual appropriations and excess defense articles can be used to build these capabilities, and prepositioned stocks of supplies can also be put in place.
Moreover, the United States should commit to a robust missile defence program for Ukraine that will allow it to protect itself against the increasingly difficult threat of hypersonic weapons. That will require a stepped-up investment in R&D and a focus on training and equipping Ukraine’s elite armed forces.
