Video filmed by a military drone shows the moment when a large Ukrainian ammunition depot was hit by a deadly hypersonic rocket.
It is the first time Russia has used hypersonic missiles since it attacked Ukraine on 24 February.
Igor Konashenkov, a spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Defense, had earlier confirmed that his Kinzhal rocket had destroyed an underground depot that stored ammunition for Ukrainian troops.
The Kinzhal – or “Dagger” – rocket is believed to have a range of 1,250 miles.
Its speed and ability to fly low make it “invisible” to most anti-missile defense systems.
A Ukrainian military official confirmed that Russian troops had launched a rocket attack on the camp on Friday.
However, it must be confirmed whether the rocket used by the Russians was really Kinzhal, the last hypersonic rocket of the county, or some other type.
Russia says it has also destroyed Ukrainian military radio and reconnaissance center near the port city of Odessa with a coastal missile system, the Interfax news agency reported.
It is unknown whether the strike caused casualties.
“The Kinzhal aviation missile system with hypersonic aero-ballistic missiles destroys a large underground ammunition depot in the Ivano-Frankivsk region,” said Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov.
Hypersonic weapons are considered to be the next generation of weapons. They can reach more than five times the speed of sound.
Weapons pose a crucial challenge to missile defense systems because of their speed and maneuverability.
The head of the UK Army has previously warned that Britain must develop hypersonic missiles to keep up with military competition.
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin highlighted Russia’s hypersound and long-range missile capabilities as a threat, and Britain’s comparative capabilities as weak. “We did not (have) them and we must have,” he said.
It comes as Russia on Friday expanded its rocket attacks on Lviv in the west of the country.
Russia launched an early morning attack on the city, its mayor said.
Despite further attacks by Putin’s troops, British intelligence has suggested that the invasion made “minimal progress” this week.
An update from the Ministry of Defense said that Ukrainian forces continue to “frustrate” Moscow’s attempts to overthrow cities including Kyiv and Mykolai.
The scourge around the capital Kyiv has also continued as the number of refugees estimated to have fled the war exceeds 3.4 million.
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