Hypersonic missiles fired by Russia at Ukraine

A Russian bomber fired three hypersonic missiles at Odesa, a southern Ukrainian port city, on Monday night.

It was a part of a bombardment that destroyed a number of civilian targets, including hotels and a shopping mall.

Although this isn’t the first time Moscow has used its Kinzhal hypersonic missile during an invasion.

Yet, it does appear to be an unusual event.

In mid-March, Russia claimed it used Kinzhal missiles in Ukraine, an allegation later corroborated by US sources.

Joe Biden described Kinzhal missile as “a consequential weapon, it’s almost impossible to stop it. There’s a reason they’re using it.”

Lloyd Austin, Biden’s defense secretary told in March that he “would not see it as a game-changer.”

The Kinzhal missile is essentially an air-launched version of Russia’s Iskander short-range ballistic missile (SRBM), which it has used numerous times in its conflict on Ukraine.