Russian missile attack on Lviv raises Belarusian complicity concerns

The rocket attack carried out by the Russians on Ukraine in recent days was special for one reason. The Kinzhal missile launched towards Lviv flew over Belarus, reports the Ukrainian agency Unian. Alexander Azarov, head of the ByPol organization (a group of Lukashenko's rebel officers), believes that Minsk was informed about this flight.

The Russians regularly shell Ukrainian territory. One of the recent strikes, aimed at Lviv, was different from the others for one reason. The X-47M2 Kinzhal missile belonging to the Russian Federation flew over Belarusian territory before reaching Ukraine. Alexander Azarov explained in an interview with Kyiv24 television why this happened.

– I think the missile flew over Belarusian territory to reduce the risk of being shot down over Ukrainian territory – he explained. Azarov notes that the Ukrainians could not shoot it down when the missile was traveling through Belarusian airspace. – Therefore, there is a high probability that by flying over Belarus, the missile will reach its target – he added.

Azarov claims that the Belarusian Ministry of Defence knew a Russian missile would appear over the country's territory and was instructed not to take any action, such as shooting down the incoming missile. The head of the ByPol organization also notes that the Russian Federation is constantly seeking new ways to carry out more effective attacks toward Ukraine.

The X-47M2 Kinzhal is a missile approximately 7 meters long, 1 meter in diameter, and weighing as much as 4,500 kilograms. This missile can reach up to 10 Mach, although more realistic estimates indicate speeds of around 8 Mach, or about 9,800 kilometres per hour.

The biggest advantage of the X-47M2 Kinzhal, however, is its ability to perform complex maneuvers during flight, making it much harder to shoot down. The ability to avoid threats at every stage of flight makes it one of the most mobile hypersonic weapons.

Although the exact specifications of the X-47M2 Kinzhal’s guidance systems remain a mystery, it is known that the missile is equipped with advanced technologies enabling precise targeting. The combination of speed and maneuverability significantly increases the effectiveness of this weapon.

Compared to other similar missiles, such as the X-101, the X-47M2 Kinzhal stands out primarily due to its greater speed and maneuverability. While the X-101 reaches speeds of about 1,000 kilometers per hour, the Kinzhal can exceed 9,800 kilometers per hour, making it an exceptionally difficult target to intercept.