00:00 In a significant development, a preliminary analysis has revealed that Russia deployed
00:08 its hypersonic Zircon missile in an attack on Kiev last week, marking the first use of
00:15 this advanced weapon in the nearly two-year-old war.
00:18 The director of the Kiev Scientific Research Institute for Forensic Examinations, Oleg
00:23 Zagorubin, announced the findings on Monday.
00:26 He stated that his institute had completed a preliminary analysis of missile fragments
00:31 from the Russian attack on February 7.
00:33 Ruvin shared a video on his Telegram channel showcasing alleged missile wreckage with specific
00:39 markings that are characteristic of the 3M22 Zircon missile.
00:44 The Zircon missile, with a reported range of 1,000 km and a speed nine times the speed
00:49 of sound, presents a new challenge to Ukraine's air defences.
00:53 Military analysts suggest that the hypersonic speed of the Zircon could significantly reduce
00:59 reaction time for air defences, making it capable of targeting large, deep and hardened
01:04 structures.
01:06 Russia had previously announced the completion of Zircon missile testing in June 2022.
01:11 Russian President Vladimir Putin has hailed the Zircon as part of a new generation of
01:16 unrivalled armed systems.
01:18 The Russian Defence Ministry has not responded to requests for comment on the recent allegations.
01:25 If confirmed, the use of the Zircon in Ukraine adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing
01:30 conflict.
01:31 With uncertainty over future Western military aid, Ukraine's air defences may face heightened
01:36 challenges in countering this advanced weaponry.
01:39 Vladimir Putin said that the Zircon missile represented the pinnacle of Russia's technological
01:44 prowess, ensuring the security of the Russian Federation and its allies.
01:49 It is important to note that Russia regularly conducts air strikes on Ukraine using various
01:54 long-range missiles and drones.
01:56 The Zircon, initially designed as a sea-launched weapon, later saw the development of a ground-launched
02:01 version.
02:02 Alexander Rubin's statement did not specify whether the Zircon used in the February 7
02:07 attack was fired from land or sea.
02:09 The markings recovered from the wreckage, however, indicated that the weapon had been
02:13 assembled recently.
02:14 The attack on February 7 resulted in at least five fatalities, causing damage to residential
02:20 buildings and energy infrastructure.
02:22 "
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