Kyiv downs Putin’s ‘unstoppable’ missiles
RUSSIAN defence chiefs scrambled to save face yesterday, denying any failures in Vladimir Putin’s “unstoppable” Kinzhal hypersonic missiles – as Ukraine said it had shot down six.
Kyiv said it “neutralised” the Kremlin’s most feared weapon in a night raid on the capital when 18 Russian missiles were downed in all.
An air-launched Kh-47 Dagger flies at Mach 10, more than 7,600mph, and costs £8millionplus. Defence minister Oleksii Reznikov hailed the “unbelievable success” of Ukraine’s US-made Patriot-MIM 104 interceptor system, although it was damaged in Tuesday’s attack.
Russia’s defence minister Sergei Shoigu flat out denied that Kyiv’s troops had downed his Kinzhals, adding: “We have not launched as many Kinzhals as they allegedly shot down. They always make mistakes with the type of missiles. That’s why they don’t hit.”
Putin has claimed the Kinzhal cannot be stopped byWestern defences, and Shoigu’s appearance was part of the Kremlin’s need to shore up the reputation of its arsenal with the Russian public.
Kremlin sources claimed its biggest missile bombardment of Kyiv so far had struck Ukrainian troops plus stores of ammunition and arms from the West. One told RIA Novosti state media: “Due to the speed of the Kinzhal, the US [missiles] were suddenly hit from an air ambush – the enemy combat crews could do nothing to protect their anti-aircraft systems.” The US admitted its £900million Patriot system had most likely been damaged. Meanwhile talks took place to try to get Russia to extend Black Sea grain export deals before they end today. World food chiefs warned that if President Putin did not keep supplies flowing, parts of Africa may face starvation.
The last ship covered by the Black Sea pact has left Ukraine.