Brilliant Performance
In an interview with a Russia-based television channel, Sergei Shoigu asserted that the Kinzhal hypersonic missile was employed three times during a military operation in Ukraine. He described its performance as outstanding on each occasion and claimed that no missile of its kind exists with similar capabilities on the world stage.
He emphasized that the weapon is unique: it travels at hypersonic speeds, is exceptionally fast, and possesses penetrating power that makes it difficult to detect or counter. Shoigu noted that during the operation the Kinzhal struck targets of strategic importance, adding that obtaining such a missile remains highly challenging.
According to Shoigu, Kinzhal missiles can exceed speeds of 10 Mach and can alter their trajectory in both vertical and horizontal planes. He also highlighted that the Su-57 aircraft provided protection against diverse air defense systems during the operation.
There are numerous capabilities, and most importantly, very powerful weapons. He stated that the weapon was tested and functions reliably.
Discovering Captured Weapons
Shoigu stated that Russian specialists are thoroughly inspecting Western weapons captured and transported to Ukraine. He asserted that the analysis is already revealing how to handle these weapons in future conflicts.
He explained that the investigation covers both the scientific and industrial aspects of Western arms, examining how to counter them and identifying key weaknesses. The work is ongoing and making solid progress overall.
Shoigu also commented on perceived shortcomings of Western weapons. He cited the M-777 portable howitzer, several foreign multiple launch rocket systems, the NLAW and Javelin anti-tank systems, Stingers, and various small arms. In his view, the M-777 howitzer is overly sensitive to conditions and difficult to repair, a critique he also applied to the Javelin system.
He asserted that countermeasures have been developed and that Russia has learned how to contend with these weapons. He noted that the western arsenal often has a longer firing range than comparable Russian systems, including their own Cornet. He added that the opportunity to showcase their own weapons, including MANPADS and anti-tank systems, should not be missed.
Three Applications
The Kinzhal missiles mounted on aircraft are described as a new class of strategic weapons. Public sources indicate that Kinzhal complexes have operated on experimental combat duty within the Russian Armed Forces since December 2017. On March 19, an official Ministry of Defense spokesperson confirmed the first use of the system in Ukraine.
According to the spokesperson, on March 18 the Kinzhal system with hypersonic aeroballistic missiles destroyed a large underground depot and munitions storage held by Ukrainian forces in the village of Delyatyn in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. The ministry later described additional uses of the system over distances surpassing 1,000 kilometers, with flight times under ten minutes, and noted that the warhead’s high kinetic energy enabled the destruction of a protected underground facility built during Soviet times to store special munitions.
On March 21, officials indicated that underground facilities linked to Tochka-U missiles in Ukraine were destroyed alongside major fuel depots in Konstantinovka, Mikolaiv region. The defense ministry stated that the explicit combat use of the Kinzhal system confirmed its effectiveness against well-protected targets. A briefing on April 11 referenced the destruction of a buried command center in the Chasov Yar enclave by the Kinzhal system as part of ongoing operations in Donbass.
Western officials, however, offered a more restrained view. United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin suggested that the Dagger did not constitute a tipping point. A Pentagon spokesperson echoed that initial launches were difficult to justify beyond targeting fixed storage. President Joe Biden, however, commented that the Kinzhal shares the same warhead as other missiles but remains extremely difficult to stop.
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