Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that his troops have already used experimental 3M22 Zircon missiles “in combat missions”.
Russia struck Ukraine with experimental Zircon missiles
Before the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Putin said this "sea-based hypersonic complex" is already operational. He admitted that Russia hit Ukraine with these missiles.
He was not even mentioned in the 2018 message, but this system is already in place. "Avangard" intercontinental hypersonic units and "Peresvet" laser complexes are on combat duty, Putin said.
He added that tests of the unlimited-range Burevesnik cruise missile and the Poseidon unmanned underwater vehicle are now being completed in Russia.
In addition, Putin stated that the strategic nuclear forces are in a state of complete readiness for guaranteed use.
Thus, the "Kinzhal" hypersonic aviation complex is not only put into service, but is also used with high efficiency to hit particularly important targets during the SMO (that's how the Russians call the war against Ukraine — ed.), Putin said.
What is known about Russia's attack on Ukraine with Zircon missiles
Earlier, the Ukrainian experts reported that two 3M22s missiles attacked the Kyiv region on Feb. 7 during a massive missile attack. The director of the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Examinations, Oleksandr Ruvin, said that one 3M22 fell in the Dniprovkyi region of Kyiv, creating a ravine, and the second fell in a field in the town of Vyshneve, near Kyiv. Air defence shot down them, so they did not reach their targets.
The analysis of the wreckage showed that the 3M22 does not meet the characteristics declared by the Russians. The rocket does not fly at a speed of Mach 8-9 (about 10,000 km/h) — it reaches 2,500 km/h in the final section of the flight. The accuracy of the rocket is questionable, and the declared destructive power with almost 400 kg of charge is less.
According to Ruvin, "Zircon" was developed primarily as a weapon against aircraft carriers, which are very difficult to sink. But this missile is unlikely to cope with its intended purpose.
On Feb. 7, 2024, Russian troops launched a massive attack on Ukraine in several waves, using 64 means of air attack: attack drones, cruise, ballistic and anti-aircraft guided missiles. Air defence shot down 29 missiles and 15 drones at that time.
In the capital, fragments of downed missiles fell in the Holosiivskyi and Dniproskyi districts. An 18-story building caught fire in Teremky. Five people died there, and another 40 were injured. In the Dniprobskyi region, a missile fragment fell near the Chernihivska underground station, damaging a high-voltage line and a heat supply main. Three people were injured.
In Mykolaiv, one person died from the attack, and 20 houses were damaged.
