The fact that the Ukrainians shot down all 18 missiles launched by the Russians overnight, including 6 supersonic Kinjals, using anti-aircraft systems obtained from Western allies, is a serious concern for Moscow, according to expert Fabian Hoffman. in missile technology and nuclear strategy.

The MiG-31K launches the Kinjal missile.Photo: press service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation / AP / Profimedia

“If I were a Russian nuclear strategist at this point, I would be very worried. It has just been proven that a Western air and missile defense system can intercept 100% of tactical nuclear vectors (short-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, aircraft) in a time-coordinated multi-vector attack,” he wrote. Hoffman on Twitter.

“We also have to ask what this means for Russian (or Chinese, for that matter) strategic nuclear deterrence,” he added.

“Yes, shooting down an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is a completely different task that may never be feasible. But the “what if” question dominates today, Hoffman said.

His words came after the Russians carried out an air attack of “exceptional intensity” on Kyiv on the night from Monday to Tuesday.

According to the Ukrainians, Moscow forces fired 18 missiles, including 6 hypersonic Kinjal missiles, and all of them were shot down. The Russians, however, claimed that they all hit their targets and destroyed the American-made Patriot anti-missile system.

Last week, Russia also attempted to destroy the Western-supplied Patriot air defense system in Ukraine with the Kinjal hypersonic missile, which the Russians consider “invincible.” The attack failed, instead, the Ukrainian military intercepted the missile using the Patriot system.

Vladimir Putin has repeatedly emphasized that he is investing in hypersonic missiles and that they are “invincible.” The Russian president publicly assessed the capabilities of Russia’s hypersonic weapon and presented it as capable of overcoming all existing air defense systems.

Moscow claims that these missiles fly at extremely high speeds – Mach 10 or 12,000 km per hour – and that, being also highly maneuverable, they are extremely difficult or impossible to intercept. However, some Western military experts believe that Russia may be exaggerating the capabilities of its hypersonic air-to-ground weapons.