Zircon: Putin uses Russia's new hypersonic cruise missile for first time against Kyiv

Russian forces have reportedly fired a hypersonic Zircon missile at the Ukrainian capital city for the first time, which presents a new challenge for the country's air defences.

Last week's attack in Kyiv is thought to be the first where the missile was used in an act of aggression in the Russian war on Ukraine.

There had been warnings from President Putin earlier this year that the weapon, which was test-fired in December 2022, was in Russian hands.

• Zircon: The hypersonic missile Putin hopes will turn the tide against Ukraine
• How Patriot missiles can improve Ukraine's layered air defence system
• Russia deploys one of its most modern frigates equipped with Zircon hypersonic missiles

The Zircon hypersonic missile is thought to be capable of reaching speeds of Mach 9, and has a range of more than 1,000km.

As a scramjet-powered cruise missile, it is different from boost-glide vehicles which rely on initial momentum provided by multi-stage rocket boosters.

The weapon was designed as an anti-ship missile, but it can also be used to carry out attacks on the ground with devastating consequences.

According to Oleksandr Ruvin, director of the Kyiv Scientific-Research Institute for Forensic Examinations, the missile was "directed to an area where there are no military facilities, civilian infrastructure and civilians were affected".

Writing on Telegram, he said: "KNDISE experts are conducting a study of Russian missiles with which the enemy attacked Ukraine on 7 February 2024.

"According to preliminary information, we really have the fact of using the 3M22 Zirkon missile. This is evidenced by markings on parts and fragments, identification of components and parts, and features of the corresponding type of weapon.

"The enemy claimed the following characteristics: range – 600-1,500 km, speed up to Mach 8-9, weight of the warhead about 300-400 kg, length 8-10m."