Ukrainian Brigade Downs Costly Russian Drone; Doubts Cast on Zircon Missiles

Soldiers from the Odesa Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade successfully destroyed a Russian reconnaissance and assault UAV, "Forpost," in the Black Sea, marking a significant loss for one of the most expensive drones in the Russian military's arsenal.

The Odesa Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade members achieved a notable victory by taking down the Russian reconnaissance and assault drone named "Forpost." This event occurred in the Black Sea and was reported by Kanał24.ua.

The "Forpost" drone is far from ordinary. It ranks among the priciest assets in Russia's drone collection. Thus, its loss signifies a major operational setback for the Russian armed forces and substantial financial damage.

Russia has been field-testing another so-called miracle weapon in Ukraine: the Zircon missiles. "There is no existing system capable of detecting and intercepting a missile at such speeds," commented Admiral Viktor Kravchenko, the former Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Navy.

However, recent analyses disprove the initial expectations surrounding the Zircon missiles, which Vladimir Putin once touted. According to the first examinations of missile debris, their actual speeds are lower than promised, and their warheads are disappointingly small. Ukrainian air defense forces have even shot down two of these missiles recently.

Kyiv-based experts have pointed out that the Zircon missile fails to achieve its intended objectives, often veering off course.

It's believed that the Russian forces employed Zircon missiles for the first time in their invasion of Ukraine on February 7, targeting Kyiv. Another documented use of these missiles was on March 25, when the remains of two intercepted missiles were retrieved and analyzed by Ukrainian experts.

Source: Kanał24.ua