KYIV: Ukraine claimed on Tuesday that during an overnight barrage of drones and missiles from Moscow, it shot down six powerful Russian hypersonic missiles.
Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said on Twitter, “The Ukrainian air forces have achieved yet another stunning victory! Our sky defences destroyed 12 additional missiles and six Russian Kinzhal hypersonic missiles last night.”
Just over a week earlier, Ukraine claimed to have shot down its first Kinzhal hypersonic missile using technology supplied by the US. Early on Tuesday, Ukraine declared that it had shot down all 18 missiles and nine drones fired overnight by Russia.
The Kinzhal missile was unveiled in 2018 by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who called it “an ideal weapon” that was extremely difficult to intercept. Ukraine had urged to its partner countries to strengthen its air defences as Russia pounded the country during the winter.
In mid-April, Kyiv reportedly used its first US Patriot air defence system to shoot down the first Kinzhal missile. What weapon was used to fire down the Kinzhals overnight was not stated in the statement on Tuesday.
Three individuals were hurt when debris fell in various districts of Kyiv, including on the city’s zoo, according to the mayor, Vitali Klitschko.
