An expert told whether Russia is ready to use hypersonic "KINJAL" missiles against Ukraine

Earlier, on November 2, the Strategic Communications Department of the Armed Forces of Ukraine published satellite images with Russian MiG-31K fighter jets in Belarus. The photo from the Machulishchi airfield shows three MiG-31K supersonic fighter-interceptors that can carry Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles and are capable of launching them at a distance of up to 2,000 kilometers.

Kirill Mikhailov, an analyst at the Conflict Intelligence Team, spoke about this in an interview with Radio NV:

The problem with the Kinzhals is that they are almost impossible to intercept with existing air defense forces. Several times Russia used "Daggers": even the air raid alarm was activated after these missiles hit the target.

Mikhailov also suggested that the deployment of Kinzhal missiles and MiG-31K aircraft in Belarus can be regarded as an element of power diplomacy: creating a threat for NATO, first of all, and for Ukraine, so that it is taken into account in planning further actions.

The CIT analyst also added:

The real destruction that it can bring is no different from an ordinary Russian missile. Most likely, they can be used for some very valuable purposes: either the so-called decision-making centers, or even some targets on NATO territory. It is clear that the Russians are not yet ready for this.

Mikhailov told what this type of rocket is:

This is the latest type of missiles adopted by Russia in 2018. In total, several dozen such missiles were fired. The mass of the Kh-47M warhead is 500 kg, and the speed is more than 12 000 km/h. After being launched from an aircraft, the rocket rises to a great height in the upper atmosphere and reaches its maximum speed when approaching the target along a ballistic trajectory. The performance characteristics of this missile do not allow the existing air defense systems of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to effectively detect and destroy it.