Russia fires second hypersonic missile

The Russian defence ministry claims to have launched cruise missiles at Ukraine from ships in the Black Sea and the Caspian sea this weekend.

Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov added Russia had launched hypersonic missiles, which travel at five times the speed of sound, from Crimean airspace.
He claimed these strikes had targeted Ukraine's military infrastructure.

"Kalibr cruise missiles were launched from the waters of the Black Sea against the Nizhyn plant that repairs Ukrainian armoured vehicles damaged in fighting," Mr Konashenkov said, Sky News reports.

Further missiles, including the hypersonic Kinzhal missiles, were launched from Crimea to destroy a fuel storage facility used by Ukraine, he added.

Sky News has been unable to verify the use of hypersonic missiles, but it is the second consecutive day Russia has claimed to have deployed one.

Moscow also claims to have struck a Ukrainian military preparation centre, where foreign fighters joining Kyiv's forces were based.

Russia has continued to deny Western claims it is targeting civilian areas.