Putin brags about new hypersonic missiles

Vladimir Putin has boasted that the russian navy will soon receive hypersonic Zircon cruise missiles.

Such missiles can fly at nine times the speed of sound, so can evade defence systems. The president was inspecting his fleet in a grandiose rally in St Petersburg to celebrate the national Navy day.

Putin laid out a ‘maritime doctrine’, claiming russia could hit enemies ‘on our country’s frontiers and in any part of the world ocean’. He did not mention the conflict in Ukraine but referred to a ‘comprehensive strengthening of russia’s geopolitical position’ in the Black and azov seas.

‘The delivery of these [missiles] to the armed forces will start in the coming months,’ Putin said.

it came as new questions were being asked about the president’s health last night after he appeared unable to use his right arm when being buzzed by mosquitoes. as the insects swarmed on the right side of his face, footage shows his right arm hanging limp, and he instead uses his left hand to shoo them away.

Putin was also seen walking with a limp, adding to recent suggestions that the president, aged 69 and proud of his macho image, has undeclared health problems.

Ukraine’s president has told more than 200,000 civilians to evacuate the war-torn donetsk region amid fears of further attacks and the freezing coming winter. The eastern region has faced the brunt of russia’s offensive since its failure to capture Kyiv.

Volodymyr Zelensky warned that as may as 220,000 people, including more than 50,000 children, were still in the battleground areas, with six civilians killed on Friday, according to the donetsk governor. ‘leave, we will help,’ mr Zelensky said.