During this strike, the russians used the hypersonic 3M22 Zircon sea-launched missile, which was aimed at an area without military objects, resulting in damage to civilian infrastructure and harm to civilians.
The fact that it could have been the Zircon missile is indicated by the markings on the parts and fragments of the missile, the identification of nodes and details, and overall features of the corresponding type of weapon, wrote Oleksandr Ruvin, the director of the KSRIFE, on his Telegram channel.
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In particular, as noted by Ruvin, the components of the 3M22 Zircon missile are marked with the corresponding general labeling 3M22, although the letter in this marking index may vary – 3L22, or 3V22, and so on.
Several fragments bear laser engravings and embossing with the inscription 3L22, signifying a particular assembly from a specific product. Moreover, the bolts on the steering mechanisms are labeled with the number 26, a distinctive feature of Zircon. Additional markings on the missile wreckage denote the production date of its components, ranging from late 2023 to 2024. This suggests that the missile was recently assembled.
Also, in his post, Ruvin noted that the microelectronics found among the fragments of Zircon are poorly preserved and, due to physical damage, are practically non-analyzable.
At the same time, experts from the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise are conducting measures to determine the composition of metal from fragments of the missile's body and thermal insulation materials.
"Extensive fragmentation of the missile complicates identification; however, it is already evident that the weapon falls short of the tactical and technical characteristics declared by the enemy. Further expert research will provide a detailed analysis of all available information," summarized Oleksandr Ruvin.
According to open sources, the 3M22 Zircon is an anti-ship hypersonic cruise missile. It has the following characteristics declared by the enemy: range - 600-1500 km, speed up to 8-9 Mach, warhead weight about 300-400 kg, length 8-10 m.
Read more: Zircon Missile Used For Strike on Kyiv: Apparently, the russian "Wunderwaffe" Was Shot Down
