Ukraine claimed on Tuesday to have shot down six Russian Kinjal hypersonic missiles, a weapon yet presented by Moscow as almost impossible to intercept. An announcement denied by the Russian Minister of Defense.
Moscow on Tuesday denied claims by kyiv that its air defenses shot down six Russian Kinjal hypersonic missiles in a new Russian attack.
“Russia hasn’t launched as many ‘Kinjal’ as (the Ukrainians) say they shot down,” Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told the Ria Novosti news agency.
“The number of these (so-called) ‘Ukrainian interceptions’ is three times what we are shooting,” he added.
“A new success” according to kyiv
Earlier on Tuesday, Ukraine said it had shot down six Kinjal hypersonic missiles that were very difficult to intercept, a major feat as long-range Russian strikes intensified again.
“A new incredible success for the Ukrainian Air Force,” said Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov.
In the evening, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed, during a videoconference speech at the Council of Europe, that “100%” of the Russian missiles fired overnight from Monday to Tuesday towards Ukrainian territory had been intercepted according to him.
The Kinjal (“Dagger” in Russian) missile is one of the weapons touted as “invincible” by Russian President Vladimir Putin, as their speed allows them to challenge most air defense systems.
Ukraine said it shot down such a Russian missile for the first time in early May, thanks to the powerful American Patriot anti-aircraft system, delivered to kyiv in April.
