Ukrainian experts dismantle Russian "superweapon" in Lviv region
Pyrotechnicians from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine successfully removed the warhead of a Russian Kinzhal missile, which was found in the Lviv region in western Ukraine. Russia's marketing of the Kinzhals as "superweapons" does not hold up, and although they remain very dangerous, they often fail to hit designated targets.
"The pyrotechnicians of the State Emergency Service neutralized the warhead of the Russian Kinzhal missile. It was discovered almost two months after the aggressor's massive shelling of Ukraine. The rescue services professionally and quickly neutralized the warhead to protect the region's residents from possible explosions," stated the official announcement.
Ukrainians found the warhead of a Russian Kinzhal missile
The target of the Kinzhal missile, the remnants of which were found by Ukrainian sappers, was the capital of the Lviv region. Although it is relatively close to the Polish border and thus NATO, it comes under Russian fire from time to time.
Kinzhals are hypersonic missiles travelling at speeds over 6,100 km/h. The Russians claim they accelerate to even 12,200 km/h, but in practice, it's likely no more than 9,800 km/h. For this reason, they are difficult to combat. However, as the war in Ukraine has shown, Kinzhals are not indestructible, and American Patriots handle them relatively well.
Ukraine's problem, even after the war ends
To carry these missiles, which weigh over 4,500 kg, the Russians most often use MiG-31K fighters, but sometimes also Tu-22M bombers. From the Ukrainians' point of view, a significant issue is the Kinzhals' range, which reaches up to 2,000 km.
This is not the first such "find" in Ukraine. Remnants of various types of Russian weapons are systematically being discovered, and this will not change even after a potential end to the war. Besides missiles, the Russians are also marking their presence on the current land with various types of mines. In 2023, the British Ministry of Defence published a report indicating that "Ukraine is the most mined country in the world."
