Russian forces have launched more than ten Zircon hypersonic missiles at Kyiv in a heavy barrage that triggered a series of explosions across the Ukrainian capital.
The Russian Defence Ministry stated that the attack successfully struck military logistics infrastructure and automated storage facilities housing unmanned aerial vehicles and drone components within the city.
According to Russian defense officials, the strikes targeted the MLP-Chaika logistics center in Kyiv, which was being used to store medium and long-range drones alongside assembly parts. Officials added that an automated order-processing warehouse operated by Epicentr was also hit, claiming the facility held dual-use goods and components designated for drone manufacturing.
Epicentr is one of Ukraine's largest commercial retail and logistics operators, while the Chaika area is located on the western outskirts of the capital. Dual-use goods refer to commercial technologies, electronics, and mechanical parts that can be adapted for military production, including drone assembly.
Hypersonic weapon performance
Military expert and retired captain first rank Vasily Dandykin described the Zircon as a sea-launched hypersonic missile that can also be deployed effectively against land targets. Speaking to Russian news outlet Lenta.ru, Dandykin stated that the weapon reaches speeds of Mach 9 to Mach 10, making it a very powerful missile that is virtually impossible for air defense systems to intercept.
Dandykin added that whatever Zircon missiles were launched in the attack successfully reached their intended targets. He noted that while Russia also possesses Kinzhal air-launched hypersonic missiles, those weapons would likely be assigned to different operational roles during military engagements.
Hypersonic weapons fly at speeds exceeding Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound, leaving defense systems with minimal reaction time. The Zircon is a Russian scramjet-powered anti-ship cruise missile adapted for land strikes, while the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal is an air-launched aeroballistic missile typically carried by fighter jets.
Targeting assembly centers
Commenting on the choice of targets, Dandykin said Russian forces were striking locations in Kyiv that had not been fully destroyed in earlier operations. He observed that it had been a considerable time since the Ukrainian capital had experienced strikes of this specific nature.
Dandykin noted that, based on military actions over the previous two days, the latest strikes targeted facilities where Ukrainian forces were actively assembling equipment and drones.
Unmanned aerial vehicles have become a central element of aerial operations in the ongoing conflict. Both medium and long-range strike drones rely on distributed supply networks and industrial facilities for component assembly and maintenance.
