Were these the last Kinschal attacks?

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It is “invincible”, a “miracle weapon” and the military pride of Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin (70): the hypersonic missile with the Russian name Kinschal – dagger. This week, Russia fired six of these missiles at Ukraine on Thursday night.

With devastating consequences: in Kiev, Kharkiv and Lviv people are without power and the destruction is great. According to preliminary information from the regional authorities, at least 11 people were killed and more than 20 injured in the nightly attacks. The Ukrainian air defense system was able to deflect some missiles, but not the Kinzhal missiles.

Missile too fast for defense system

There’s a good reason for that. The rockets are many times faster than the speed of sound: they would fly more than 6000 kilometers per hour. According to Russian information, they can hit targets at a distance of up to 2,000 kilometers – while bypassing all air defense systems. Because it is particularly difficult to detect because it can be launched from MiG-31 fighter jets. This gives her greater reach and the ability to attack from multiple directions. It’s also a guided missile, meaning it can still be targeted in flight, according to CNN.

The powerful weapon has rarely been seen in the skies over Ukraine. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), it was first deployed to Ukraine in March last year and has been used intermittently ever since.

Ukraine cannot defend itself against Kinzhal

The nuclear-capable “dagger” poses a special challenge: it is immune to Ukraine’s air defenses. The Kinzhal is an air-launched variant of the Iskander short-range ballistic missile (SRBM), which has also seen more widespread use in Ukraine, and was unveiled by Putin in 2018 as the cornerstone of a modernized Russian arsenal.

“Russia probably developed the unique missile to more easily attack critical European infrastructure. The speed combined with the missile’s unpredictable trajectory and high maneuverability can make interception difficult,” said a CSIS report available to CNN. This means that Ukraine cannot stop these missiles with the current equipment.

Russia is running out of missiles

The only solution: hope that Russia will soon run out of missiles. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russia had about 50 relatives at its disposal, meaning it deployed a significant portion of them in one night. Means the Kinschal attacks are unlikely to happen on a regular basis.

The ISW suspects that the kin scarves were used out of necessity. “The Kremlin may have deliberately fired missiles that Ukraine’s air defenses cannot intercept to appease Russian pro-war and ultra-nationalists and achieve guaranteed success.” According to CNN, Russia is running out of normal missiles, making successful attacks on Ukraine more difficult. There is a good chance that no more kinshaws will be used – they are reserved for attacks on their own.

Source: Blick