Russia launched advanced Kinzhal missiles at Ukrainian pilots who will soon go for training on US-made F-16 fighter jets, the Ukrainian Air Force claimed Friday.
Military officials say one of the four Russian missiles, also known as KH-47, was shot down. The other three missiles hit near on of Ukraine’s military airfields, which have been consistent Russian targets for several months, Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat told Ukrainian television.
While Starokostiantyniv airfield in western Ukraine has been most frequently targeted, Friday’s early morning attack targeted the Kolomyia airfield — also located in western Ukraine, in the Ivano-Frankivsk region.
“This time our youth was targeted,” Ihnat said. “Our young pilots who will soon go for training.”
Ihnat claimed Russia “wanted to hit our youngsters, depriving us of the prospect for our further re-equipment with the latest Western technologies. But as we see they did not succeed in this.”
One of the missiles was downed over the Kyiv region. It’s unclear what happened to the others.
CNN is unable to verify any battlefield claims.
About Kinzhal missiles: Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian military have touted the Kinzhal, or Kh-47, as an example of Russia’s modernized missile arsenal, claiming that its hypersonic speed makes it extremely difficult to intercept.
Ukraine has acknowledged that the missiles are tough to defend against, though it has knocked at least one out of the sky using a US Patriot defense battery.
