Bolt From The Blue: Russia’s Latest Hypersonic Missile Hits Ukrainian Military Plant Amid Kiev’s Failures On Almost All Fronts

Click to see the full-size image

Russia has successfully tested a new hypersonic intercontinental missile in Ukraine, so far without a nuclear warhead. Zelensky made frightened and contradictory comments, while admitting that the Ukrainian army has been hitting Russia with Western long-range weapons for a long time. Meanwhile, Russian troops are on the offensive on all fronts, except the Kharkiv direction.

The highlight of the past 24 hours was the launch by the Russian Armed Forces of the medium-range ballistic missile “Oreshnik” (speed – 10 Mach or about 3 kilometers per second) and the ultimatum addressed by the Russian President Vladimir Putin not only to Ukraine, but also to its Western bosses, who officially authorized the use of ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles on Russian territory. The Yuzhmash missile factory in Dnepr (Dnepropetrovsk), which has been producing missile equipment since the Soviet era, was hit. Shortly before the strike, Moscow warned Washington about the launch to avoid accidentally starting a nuclear war. From the media perspective, this case was out of the ordinary, and Western politicians, as well as the public, reacted violently to it.

The head of the Kiev regime, Volodymyr Zelensky, said a short time later that the strike with the Oreshnik missile was not provoked by any reason and that the Ukrainian armed forces have been using long-range weapons to strike Russia for a long time.

“This ballistic missile strike against Ukraine today is further proof that Russia definitely doesn’t want peace. Putin is lying when he says that Ukraine’s alleged use of long-range weapons was some sort of new thing we’re doing. This is not the first time we have applied those arms. And we have every right to do so with respect to the norms of international law.” – Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrainian politician.

To be more specific, the Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile is aimed at delivering nuclear strikes but in yesterday’s attack the multiple independently targeted reentry vehicles were equipped with hard steel plugs. The published footage from Dnipro (Dnepropetrovsk) shows the kinetic effect of using such ammunition. It is possible that the missile was fitted with an Avangard-R hypersonic glider.

Footage of the Russian intercontinental ballistic missile Oreshnik striking the Yuzhmash defense plant in Dnepr (Dnepropetrovsk)

Another footage of the Russian intercontinental ballistic missile Oreshnik striking the Yuzhmash defense plant in Dnepr (Dnepropetrovsk)

Footage of the hypersonic Oreshnik missile’s presumed flight during testing

Heavy fighting is ongoing in the Kursk Region. The Russian Sever (North) Group of Forces has advanced with difficult battle in the vicinity of the village of Daryino and forest areas near the village of Malaya Loknya. Three Ukrainian servicemen were captured. The total number of the POVs is currently 475. Two Ukrainian counterattacks with armored vehicles were repulsed: in Novoivanovka and near Daryino.

During the day, the Ukrainian armed forces lost 150 servicemen, at least four vehicles, an artillery piece, and two mortars.

Russian FPV drone destroys Ukrainian ammunition dump in the Kursk Region

It worth mentioning that the Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov held a working meeting at the command and control center of the Russian Sever (North) Group of Forces, where he heard reports from the commanders concerning the current situation on the frontline, the material support for the troops in the special military operation area, and the character of enemy actions.

In the Kharkiv (Lyptsi) direction, another Ukrainian armed forces’ attack was repelled, the Ukrainians lost personnel and armored vehicles, with no success. Fighting is still going on in the Volchansk town, near the panel houses area.

In the woods near Lyptsi the Ukrainian Army conducted an attack by two assault groups comprising up to 12 men on 2 armored personnel carriers. As a result of rifle combat and FPV drone strikes, the attacks were repulsed and both Ukrainian assault groups were completely destroyed.

Striking the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ positions in the Kharkiv Region by FPV drones of the Russian Zapad (West) Group of Forces

Russian FPV drone destroys vehicle with Ukrainian personnel in the Kharkiv Region

The Russian Armed Forces have seized the settlement of Kopanki in the Kharkiv Region. The Russian flag was raised there.

Russian flag in the settlement of Kopanki, Kharkiv Region

In the Kurakhove direction, the Russian Armed Forces have advanced with a broad front north of Antonovka. The intensity of the fighting remains high in Dalneye and Kurakhove. From the bulge near Dalneye, Russian troops are turning their flank towards the villages near the Sukhi Yaly River, approaching from the north.

On the northern flank, Russian troops have taken most of the Novodmitrivka area, and are holding about half of Sontsivka, the capture of which will open the way to Starye Terny. At the same time, the Russian fighters captured Novoselidovka and the fields west of it: the movement of Russian infantry has been detected in the settlement itself, while the battles have shifted to the south.

Russian troops are conducting a cleanup operation in Novoselidovka

Meanwhile, on the southern flank, from the direction of Bogoyavlenka, a successful attack by a Russian assault group was reported. The fighters expanded the zone of control and occupied part of the Ukrainian positions in the Lesnaya Dacha grove south of Vesely Gai, the complete clearing of which would make it possible to bypass the Ukrainian armed forces’ fortifications near Yelizavetivka from the rear.

A Russian assault group bursts into a Ukrainian stronghold in the Elizavetivka forest at full speed, advancing towards Vesely Gai

On the Vremivka direction, Russian forces disrupted by artillery fire and UAV airdrops an attempt of the Ukrainian armed forces to transfer the reserves to the right bank of the Volchya River.

The Russian army is fighting on the approaches to Razdolnoye and Velyka (Bolshaya) Novoselka, advancing from the direction of Novodonetskoye and Yasnaya Polyana. From the side of Razdolnoye, Russian forces are threatening to cut off Ukrainian troops in Velyka (Bolshaya) Novoselka from the main road to the north (Bogatyr settlement). According to unconfirmed reports, this road is now under the fire control of the Russian side.

MORE ON THE TOPIC:

• In Both Word and Deed: Putin’s Missile Ultimatum To The West And The Russian Troops’ Breakthrough Into The Kurakhove City
• New Videos Show Launch Of Russian Oreshnik Missile
• Russian Oreshnik Entered Battle: Putin Revealed Details Of Attack In Dnipro