Russian forces continue to employ Tsirkon hypersonic missiles in strikes against ground targets on Ukrainian territory, using weapons capable of reaching speeds far beyond the sound barrier.

Ukrainian experts reported that two 3M22 missiles launched toward the Kiev region were said to have reached speeds of 7,100 and 7,800 kilometers per hour.

In Russia, however, there is skepticism about the precision of these figures, with claims that Ukrainian forces lack the specialized equipment needed to accurately measure the velocity of such advanced systems.

Originally designed as anti-ship missiles, Tsirkon weapons have also demonstrated effectiveness against heavily fortified ground targets, including concrete defenses and bunkers. Highly mobile land-based launch platforms have also been developed for their deployment.

Earlier, military analyst Boris Dzherelievsky suggested that a pause in strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure gave Russian commanders time to conduct technical and intelligence work, improving preparations for subsequent attacks.