During a recent broadcast on a Kremlin-controlled television network, a prominent Russian journalist discussed using Moscow’s new Zircon hypersonic missiles against the United States and other NATO members.
National Defense magazine editor Igor Korotchenko, who is known for spreading Kremlin propaganda, made the comments during a show on the Russia-1 channel hosted by Evgeny Popov. His comments came after the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute for Forensic Examinations said earlier this week that an analysis it conducted found that Russia used a 3M22 Zircon missile for the first time during a February 7 air raid on Kyiv.
The Kremlin has not confirmed the use of the Zircon missile, which reportedly completed testing in June 2022. According to the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, the Zircon missile is an anti-ship hypersonic cruise missile with a range between 310 and 466 miles, though Russian sources have claimed it can reach up to 621 miles and can travel nine times the speed of sound.
RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY PRESS AND INFORMATION OFFICE/TASS/Getty Images
Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to Ukraine’s minister of internal affairs, shared a clip on X (formerly Twitter) of the Zircon discussion between Korotchenko and Popov on Thursday.
Gerashchenko’s video begins with Korotchenko claiming Russia will not be using Zircon hypersonic missiles against Ukraine. He listed other powerful weapons in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s arsenal that he said would instead be put into action against Kyiv’s military.
“We have Kalibr cruise missiles, Iskander-M systems, cruise missiles carried by our Tu-95 and Tu-160 strategic bombers with non-nuclear warheads, and missiles carried by Tu-22M3s,” Korotchenko said, according to Gerashchenko’s English captions. “They are quite enough for effective operation.”
Russian propagandists discuss attacking Great Britain, the United States and other NATO countries with Zirkon missiles. They say these missiles are too good to use them on Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/uILNHL9B1J
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) February 15, 2024
The Russian journalist then suggested the powerful Zircons would be utilized against other future adversaries.
“Zircon is, after all, a high-class weapon that will be used not to counter Ukraine, but to counter the United States, Great Britain and other key NATO countries,” Korotchenko said.
Newsweek reached out to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs via email on Thursday for comment.
The remarks were not the first time Korotchenko has made threats against the U.S. on television. In a September appearance on Popov’s show, he warned that the U.S. could be in danger of a Russian missile attack.
While talking about a recent strike from Kyiv’s forces on Russian targets in Crimea, Korotchenko said there should be a discussion about what will determine “the use and permissibility of tactical nuclear weapons, what goals and what tactics we will use.” He then blamed the U.S. for engineering the strikes in Crimea.
“The most important message we should send to the Americans is that we will not wage war with you in Europe,” Korotchenko said. “In response to your attacks on Russian military or civilian facilities, the first strike will be a preventative limited strike against targets on the territory of the United States of America.”
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.