Missile event in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Zaporizhzhia area, Ukraine on Thu 9th March 2023

Missile attack on Ukraine: 81 missiles, including 6 X-47 Kinzhal - Ukrainian Air Force. On the night of 9 March, Russia launched a massive missile attack on Ukraine. In total, the occupiers fired 81 missiles of various types and locations, as well as 8 kamikaze drones. Among them, the enemy used 6 X-47 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, the Air Force Command reported. The Ukrainian Air Force, in cooperation with units of other components of the Ukrainian Defence Forces, destroyed 34 cruise missiles and 4 drones. The Russians reportedly launched missiles from ten Tu-95 strategic bombers, seven Tu-22M3 long-range bombers, eight Su-35 multi-role combat aircraft, six MiG-31K fighters and three Kalibr missile carriers in the Black Sea that night. Missiles from the S-300 air defence system were also used to fire at ground targets. Russian occupants attacked Ukraine's critical infrastructure. The Air Force reported that in total, the aggressor country's forces launched 81 missiles of various types: 28 launches of X-101/X-555 air-launched cruise missiles; 20 launches of Kalibr sea-launched cruise missiles; 6 launches of X-22 air-launched cruise missiles; 6 launches of X-47 Kinzhal air-launched cruise missiles; 8 launches of guided aircraft missiles: 2 - X-31P, 6 - X-59; 13 launches of S-300 anti-aircraft guided missiles. In addition, there were 8 launches of Shahed-136/131 kamikaze drones. The attacks resulted in deaths, and there were also hits to critical infrastructure. Emergency power cuts were introduced in a number of Ukrainian regions. It is reported that the Ukrainian air defence forces destroyed 34 cruise missiles and 4 Shahed-136/131 UAVs out of 48 X-101/X-555 and Kalibr cruise missiles fired at Ukraine. "As a result of organised countermeasures, 8 X-31P and X-59 guided missiles failed to reach their targets," the Ukrainian Air Force said. However, the Air Force Command noted that the Armed Forces of Ukraine currently have no means capable of intercepting Russian air-launched X-22 and X-47 Kinzhal missiles, as well as S-300/400 anti-aircraft missiles, which Russians use to fire at ground targets in Ukraine. The Kh-47m2 Kinzhal is a Russian hypersonic air-to-air missile system. The Kinzhal missile is similar in size and appearance to the Iskander ballistic missile system. The maximum declared speed of the missile is 10 M. The carrier is a converted MiG-31K fighter-interceptor capable of carrying 1 missile and hitting targets at a distance of up to 2000 km. The Kh-22 is a Soviet supersonic long-range air-launched cruise anti-ship missile. It is part of the K-22 aircraft missile system. It was designed to engage radar-contrast point and group surface targets. The warhead contains 960 kg of explosives. Fenix Insight: Reported use of 81 missiles of various types and eight 'kamikaze' UAV (Shahed-131/Shahed-136). Munition break down list: 28 × Kh-101/Kh-555; 20 × 3M-14 Kalibr series; 6 × Kh-22 series; 6 × Kh-47M2 Kinzhal; 2 × Kh-31P series; 6 × Kh-59 series; 13 × Modified SAM (commonly 5V55 series) of the S-300 family of systems; and 8 × Shahed-136/131 UAV.