Russia used the latest Kh-69 missiles to strike Tripillya thermal power plant (photo)

Russian troops used their new cruise missiles Kh-69 to strike Tripillya TPP. This is reported by Defence Express.

The launch range of missiles was about 400 km. This parameter exceeds the known estimates of the range of X-69 in 300 km.

This is not the first use of X-69 to strike Ukraine, at least the first mention of their use first appeared in February 2024, although sporadic cases were as early as 2023. Subsequently, this unofficial information was confirmed thanks to the publication of the Kyiv Research Institute of Forensic Expertise (KNIISE) on the study of the wreckage of the X-69," the report said.

It is noted that the X-69 is a Russian subsonic cruise missile for tactical aircraft. It can be launched from Su-34 and Su-35 aircraft, besides, it should become the main cruise missile for the Su-57.

Its currently available characteristics spoke of a range of up to 290 kilometres, but in practice it turned out to be longer. The weight of the warhead was declared to be within 310kg.

Despite the fact that this missile is subsonic and has a smaller warhead than the "hypersonic" Kh-47M2 "Kinzhal", the Russian Federation's use of the Kh-69 to strike the Tripoli thermal power plant, oddly enough, can be considered the worst situation," the publication reports.

Firstly, its effective strike indicates the possibility of its penetration past Ukrainian air defences.

Secondly, its launch from tactical aircraft levels the characteristic sign of large-scale missile attacks, when the take-off of Tu-95MS and MiG-31K strategic bombers is recorded.

Also, its use, precisely due to the launch from the Su-34 or Su-35 can be of a more mass character due to the larger number of carriers.

The missile's range of 400 kilometres is sufficient to hit a significant number of objects on the territory of Ukraine from tactical aircraft, which may well approach the border or the front line at a range of 50-70 kilometres.