Article author:
Associated Press
MOSCOW (AP) — The Russian Armed Forces advanced Thursday announced that it had deployed fighter jets armed with hypersonic missiles to the Kaliningrad region of the country. The move comes amid growing tensions with Western countries over Moscow's actions in Ukraine.
The Russian Ministry of Defense said that three of his MiG-31 fighters with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles would fly to the Baltic as part of "additional measures of strategic deterrence". He said he had arrived at the Chkalovsk air force base in the sea enclave.
The ministry said the fighter would be on duty 24 hours a day.
A video released by the Ministry of Defense shows fighter jets arriving at the base but carrying no missiles, apparently delivered separately.
In Ukraine The deployment of Kinzhal missiles in Kaliningrad appeared intended to demonstrate the Russian military's ability to threaten NATO assets as the Russian operation nears six months. The region borders NATO members Poland and Lithuania.
Moscow accuses the United States and its allies of fomenting the conflict and strongly criticizes the handover of Western arms to Ukraine.
According to the Russian military, the Kinzhar has a range of up to 2,000 kilometers (about 1,250 miles) and a flight speed ten times his speed of sound, making interception difficult. Russia has used this weapon to hit several targets in Ukraine.
The Kaliningrad location is at the forefront of efforts to counter what Moscow describes as NATO's hostile policies. The Kremlin has systematically strengthened its military power there, armed with cutting-edge weaponry, including precision-guided Iskandar missiles and an array of air defense systems.
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