Experts have reported that Russia deployed a Zircon hypersonic cruise missile in Ukraine for the first time.
According to Oleksandr Ruvin, director of the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise, identifying markings found among the missile debris suggest its origin.
Ruvin pointed out unique characteristics, such as the inscription “3L22” on some fragments and the number 26 on steering system bolts, which are consistent with a 3M22 Zircon missile.
He supported his claim with a video of the wreckage.
The attack, which occurred last Wednesday, resulted in at least five deaths and over 50 injuries.
The Zircon missile is part of Russia’s hypersonic program, capable of reaching speeds between Mach 6 and Mach 8, or about 4,500 to 6,000 mph, according to a report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS).
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Despite Russian claims of even higher speeds, some experts caution against overestimating its capabilities.
Business Insider’s Michael Peck reported that speeds exceeding Mach 5 create plasma sheaths that can obstruct radar signals, affecting the missile’s accuracy against moving targets.
While further analysis of the debris is ongoing, researchers at the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise have stated that the missile does not meet the claimed tactical and technical characteristics touted by Russia.
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