Russian strike plans collapse after Ukrainian intel hits Zircon missiles and launcher
Illustrative photo: HUR reconnaissance troops destroyed a Bastion-M launcher (Getty Images)
Ukrainian intelligence destroyed a Bastion launcher along with several Zircon hypersonic missiles on the night of March 24. The enemy was moving such weapons to launch positions, according to Ukraine's Defense Intelligence.
Soldiers of the Unmanned Systems Department tracked in temporarily occupied Crimea a column of Bastion-M launchers that had moved toward positions.
“As a result of precise strikes by intelligence officers, one of the launchers was destroyed and two expensive Zircon missiles, another Bastion was damaged,” the intelligence statement says.
Seven Russians were also killed and wounded.
The intelligence noted that the Russians use Zircon missiles to terrorize the civilian population of Ukraine, in particular, residents of the southern, western, and eastern regions.
“Tonight, the aggressor’s plans to attack peaceful cities were thwarted,” the HUR emphasized.
Zircon missile
The Russian Zircon missile (3M22) is a hypersonic cruise anti-ship missile of sea-based deployment, designed to strike surface targets, including ships and carrier strike groups, as well as some ground targets.
It is part of a missile system and is launched from ships, submarines, and ground-based launchers. Development began in the early 2010s, and its adoption into service became known in 2023.
Zircon is capable of reaching speeds of up to Mach 8–9 (about 9,000–11,000 km/h) and hitting targets at a range of approximately 400 to 1,000 km or more.
Russians have recently been regularly using Zircon missiles to strike peaceful cities of Ukraine.
However, today, March 24, the use of such missiles during another massive strike was not recorded.
