Ukraine shoots down barrage of Russian hypersonic missiles - but Kremlin claims ‘unstoppable’ super weapon hit targets
16 May 2023, 13:45 | Updated: 16 May 2023, 13:49
Ukrainian forces say they have shot down six ‘unstoppable’ hypersonic missiles fired by Russia during an intense attack on the capital Kyiv.
The six “Kinzhal” missiles were fired from MiG-31K strike aircraft, while a further 9 cruise missiles launched from the Black Sea fleet and three land-based cruise missiles targeted Ukraine’s capital.
Ukraine's Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said 18 missiles of various types were intercepted and shot down.
Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv's city military administration, said on telegram: “It was exceptional in its density - the maximum number of attack missiles in the shortest period of time.”
Ukrainian Officials have stated that tonight’s Missile Attack on Kyiv was “Exceptional in its Density” and that it appears to have been attempting to Target a number of Ukrainian Air Defense Sites with Drones as well as Cruise and Ballistic Missiles from multiple directions. pic.twitter.com/59ly1y5aYT
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) May 16, 2023
Russia claimed the missiles had hit all of their targets.
The air raid alert sounded at 11.30pm GMT last night - the eighth attack to hit Kyiv this month.
Multiple large explosions rocked the city centre.
The head of Ukraine's armed forces, Valerii Zaluzhny, said Russia attacked Kyiv from the north, south and east with 18 missiles.
President Volodymyr Zelenksyy has concluded a whirlwind European tour to visit key allies, which spurred an additional tranche of pledged military aid, including pledges of attack drones from the UK.
Debris fell across several districts in the capital.
In the Solomyansky district, the debris caused a fire in a non-residential building. The fire was extinguished.
Debris set cars on fire and fell on the grounds of a zoo, but no losses were reported, said Kyiv mayor, Vitali Klitschko.
