Ukrainian Military Says Russia Has Launched Five Zircon Hypersonic Missiles at Kyiv This Year

Russian military illustration of the Zircon hypersonic missile test from the Admiral Gorshkov frigate. (Russian Ministry of Defense Press Office via TASS)

JAKARTA - Russia has launched five of its new Zircon hypersonic missiles to attack Kyiv, Ukraine since the beginning of this year, the city's military administration said on Monday.

The attack was among more than 180 Russian missile and drone attacks launched against the Ukrainian capital in the first three months of this year, the government said in a post on Telegram, reported by Reuters, April 2.

The sea-based Zircon missile has a range of 1,000 km (625 miles) and travels at nine times the speed of sound, Russia said.

Meanwhile, military analysts say the missile's hypersonic speed could reduce air defense reaction times and the ability to strike large, deep and hard targets.

Previously, Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed in his annual state of the nation address on February 29 that Russia had used Zircon missiles in combat, without specifying which location was the target.

He described Zircon as part of an unrivaled new generation of weapons systems.

Meanwhile, Director of the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute for Forensic Examination Oleksandr Ruvin said via Telegram channel that his institute had completed a preliminary analysis of missile fragments from the Russian attack on February 7, finding certain signs.

"In this case, we see elements that are characteristic of the 3M22 Zircon missile. Parts and fragments of the engine and steering mechanism have certain markings," he wrote.

Furthermore, the Kyiv government said the city had also been attacked since early 2024 by six other types of missiles, including the Kh-101, an air-launched cruise missile of which 113 have been fired so far.

Russia also fired 11 Kinzhal missiles, another hypersonic weapon that travels at several times the speed of sound, at Ukraine's capital this year, he said.

There was no immediate comment from Moscow. Russia is known to regularly announce missile strikes against Ukraine against what it says are military and energy targets, although some missiles have also hit civilian buildings.

Over the past two weeks, Russia has stepped up long-term bombardment of electricity and gas infrastructure across Ukraine, causing major damage and power outages in several major cities.

They also attempted to achieve political, military and manufacturing targets in Kyiv during the two-year full-scale war against Ukraine.