Russia fires record eight Zircon hypersonic missiles overnight; Kyiv residential tower collapsed, 11 dead, 100+ wounded
A 24-story Kyiv apartment block partially collapsed overnight after Russia fired a record eight Zircon hypersonic missiles. None were intercepted. Full barrage: 73 missiles, 656 drones. At least 11 dead, 100+ wounded. Ukraine air force downed 40 missiles and 602 drones.
A 24-story apartment block in Kyiv partially collapsed overnight after Russia launched a record eight Zircon hypersonic missiles at Ukraine, the largest single use of the weapon in the war. None of the eight Zircons were intercepted. The full barrage included 73 missiles and 656 drones, making it the most intense ballistic and hypersonic strike on Ukraine since the start of the year. At least 11 people were killed and more than 100 wounded. Kyiv authorities reported four killed and 65 wounded in the capital, including children. Rescue teams continue to search for residents feared trapped under the rubble of the collapsed building. Ukraine air force said its defenses brought down 40 of the 73 incoming missiles and neutralized 602 of the 656 drones, but the Zircons passed through. Yuriy Ihnat, head of communications at the Ukrainian Air Force, said the simultaneous use of eight Zircons had never been recorded before. The missiles were launched from occupied Crimea and the Kursk region. The Zircon, which Moscow claims flies at Mach 9 with a range of 1,000 kilometers, is one of the few hypersonic systems in active combat use. Patriot batteries have intercepted individual Zircons in past attacks, but the high-volume launch this time appears to have saturated air defenses. Sources: Defense Express, Times of Israel, CNN, New Voice of Ukraine, Militarnyi.