Attacking Ukraine's Underground Armory, Russia Uses Kinzhal Hypersonic Missile For The First Time

Russia's Kinzhal hypersonic missile placed in the belly of the Mig 31 aircraft. This air-to-ground missile was first introduced in 2018. (Photo: Radio Sputnik/The Diplomat)

JAKARTA - Russia on Saturday admitted to using a hypersonic Kinzhal missile to destroy a large arsenal of weapons in Ukraine's western Ivano-Frankivsk region.

Russia's Interfax news agency, quoted by Antara, reported that this was the first time Russia had deployed a hypersonic Kinzhal system since Moscow sent troops to Ukraine on February 24.

Defense ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov told a news conference that the underground warehouse hit by the Kinzhal system on Friday held Ukrainian missiles and aircraft ammunition, according to press conference footage shared by Russian news agencies.

But Reuters was unable to independently verify Konashenkov's statement, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Russia is proud of its advanced weaponry. President Vladimir Putin said in December that Russia was the global leader of hypersonic missiles, whose speed, maneuverability and altitude make them difficult to track and intercept.

The Kinzhal missile was part of the arsenal that was revealed in 2018.

On Saturday Konashenkov added that Russian troops also pounded military radio and reconnaissance centers near the Ukrainian port city of Odessa using the Bastion coastal missile system.

Moscow has called the action in Ukraine a "special operation" to weaken its neighbor's military capabilities and to root out nationalists it deems dangerous.

Ukrainian forces have put up a tough fight against Russia and Western countries have also imposed sanctions on Moscow in an attempt to force it to withdraw troops from Ukraine.