Putin: hypersonic Zircon cruise missiles to arrive in few months

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
31 Jul 2022 13:41

Russian President Vladimir Putin announces that there will be a hypersonic Zircon cruise missile delivery to the Russian navy in the upcoming months.

Russian President Vladimir Putin during Navy Day celebrations (AP)

During Navy Day celebrations on Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the navy would receive hypersonic Zircon cruise missiles in the upcoming months, noting that the deployment of these missiles will depend on Russian interests.

Addressing the Russian people in St. Petersburg, Putin made no mention of Ukraine, taking the time to commend Tsar Peter the Great for developing Russia's maritime capabilities and making it a world power in this realm.

⚓️ Today Russia celebrates #NavyDay, July 31, by tradition on the last Sunday of this summer month.

For 3️⃣2️⃣6️⃣ years the Navy safeguarded our nation's interests and borders.

Learn more about the Navy's history, traditions and capabilities 👉 https://t.co/BzSrbjlG9A pic.twitter.com/WWupnm1Hfi
— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) July 31, 2022

"The delivery of these (missiles) to the Russian armed forces will start in the coming months," Putin said. "The Admiral Gorshkov frigate will be the first to go on combat duty with these formidable weapons on board."

Hypersonic missiles can travel at nine times the speed of sound, and Russia has performed several Zircon test launches from warships and submarines in the last year.

"The key thing here is the capability of the Russian navy... It is able to respond with lightning speed to all who decide to infringe on our sovereignty and freedom," Putin concluded.

It is worth noting that earlier in the day, a drone attack on Sunday that targeted the Russian fleet located in the port of Sevastopol, Crimea, wounded five, the city's mayor, Mikhail Rrazvozhayev said.

Rrazvozhayev highlighted that all festivities in Sevastopol have been canceled following the wounding of five people, including employees and military staff.