Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at his annual press conference in Moscow, Russia on December 14, 2023.
Photo: REUTERS/SCANPIX
19:29, 21 December 2023
The Kinzhal hypersonic missile, which Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has declared his “superweapon,” is rarely hitting its targets in the war in Ukraine, British intelligence has reported.
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The report says that on the day Russian TV aired the “Direct Line with Vladimir Putin”, in which the dictator answers citizens’ questions, Russia used a Kinzhal hypersonic missile against Ukraine for the first time since August.
At least one missile was fired into central Ukraine, possibly with the aim of hitting a military airfield. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched a total of three Kinzhal missiles. One was destroyed by an anti-aircraft missile unit in the Kyiv region. The Ukrainian armed forces did not specify what happened to the other two.
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“Kinzhal” plays an important role in Russia’s future military doctrine, reminds the British intelligence services. This missile was included in the list of six types of “super weapons”, which Putin announced already in 2018.
In Ukraine, the Russian army uses “Kinzhal” in exceptional cases – to hit well-protected targets with high military value.
However, “Kinzhal” experienced an “ambiguous combat debut”, the intelligence service emphasizes: “Many launch attempts did not reach the intended targets, while Ukraine managed to intercept these supposedly “invincible” missiles.”
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In October, the British Ministry of Defense already reported on the ineffectiveness of “Daggers”, stating that the missiles are in the testing phase and their operation in combat conditions is still very desirable.
“On paper, this missile is very effective, capable of flying at supersonic speed and avoiding modern air defense systems, but in order to realize its potential, the Russian Federation will most likely have to significantly improve it,” the ministry emphasized.
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2023-12-21 17:36:17
#British #intelligence #reports #failure #Putins #superweapon #Ukraine
