Published 13 hours agoPublished 13 hours agolast updated 8 hours agolast updated 8 hours ago
Ukraine's air force commander said the missile was shot down using a US Patriot defense system. Meanwhile, a Russian author was reportedly injured in a bombing, which killed another person. DW has the latest.
Ukraine said it has shot down a Russian hypersonic missile over Kyiv using newly acquired US-made Patriot defense systems.
Ukrainian Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk announced the operation on Telegram on Saturday. He said that a Kinzhal-type ballistic missile was intercepted in an overnight attack on May 4.
"I congratulate the Ukrainian people on the historic event. Yes, we shot down the 'unique' Kinzhal," Oleshchuk wrote.
The unconfirmed claim would mark the first known case of Ukraine successfully intercepting what's seen as among Moscow's most modern missiles. Russia had previously boasted about the missile's speed and capability.
The Russian military say it has a range of up to 2000 kilometers (around 1,250 miles), with a speed 10 times that of sound. It is therefore difficult to intercept.
The US agreed to send its most advance surface-to-air defense system, the Patriot, in October.