Russian President Vladimir Putin attended in a video conference on Wednesday the mission launch of a warship equipped with new hypersonic cruise missiles in the Atlantic, Indian and Mediterranean oceans.
“I am sure that such powerful weapons will effectively protect Russia from external threats and help defend national interests,” Putin said at the ceremony, which he attended, accompanied by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu from an unspecified location.
“The ship’s crew will practice deploying hypersonic weapons and long-range cruise missiles,” said Mr. Shoigu.
He pointed out that the hypersonic Zircon missiles are “capable of overcoming any current or future air defense system,” and that they can “powerful and accurate strikes at sea and on land.”
Russia has suffered a series of humiliating setbacks in its offensive that began more than 10 months ago in Ukraine.
And the Russian military leadership faced new criticism in recent days after the Ukrainian strikes with American HIMARS missile launchers on New Year’s Eve killed at least 89 soldiers who had gathered en masse in one building.
