Russia deploys hypersonic missiles to its Baltic territory

MOSCOW — The Russian military said Thursday it deployed aircraft armed with state-of-the-art hypersonic missiles to the country’s Kaliningrad region, a move that comes amid soaring tension with the West over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said three MiG-31 fighters with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles arrived at the Chkalovsk air base in the Baltic Sea territory as part of “additional measures of strategic deterrence.”

The ministry said the aircraft will be put on round-the-clock alert.

A video released by the ministry showed the fighters arriving at the base but not carrying the missiles, which were apparently delivered separately.

Three Russian MiG-31 jets are seen after landing at the Chkalovsk air base in the Kaliningrad region. The Russian Defense Ministry said three MiG-31s equipped to carry Kinzhal hypersonic missiles were deployed to the region as part of "additional measures of strategic deterrence." (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

The deployment of Kinzhal missiles to Kaliningrad as Russia’s campaign in Ukraine nears the sixth-month mark appeared intended to showcase the Russian military’s capability to threaten NATO assets. The region borders NATO members Poland and Lithuania.

Moscow has strongly criticized the deliveries of Western weapons to Ukraine, accusing the U.S. and its allies of fueling the conflict.

A Russian Air Force MiG-31K jet is seen carrying the hypersonic missile Kh-47M2 Kinzhal during a military parade. (Pavel Golovkin/AP)

The Russian military says the Kinzhal has a range of up to 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles) and flies at 10 times the speed of sound , making it difficult to intercept. Russia has used the weapon to strike several targets in Ukraine.

Kaliningrad’s location has put it in the forefront of Moscow’s efforts to counter what it described as NATO’s hostile policies. The Kremlin has methodically bolstered its military forces there, arming them with state-of-the-art weapons, including precision-guided Iskander missiles and an array of air defense systems.

莫斯科——俄罗斯军方周四表示，已向该国加里宁格勒地区部署了装备有最先进高超音速导弹的飞机。此举正值莫斯科入侵乌克兰导致与西方关系高度紧张之际。

俄罗斯国防部表示，三架配备“匕首”高超音速导弹的米格-31战斗机抵达波罗的海地区的契卡洛夫斯克空军基地，这是“战略威慑的额外措施”的一部分。

该部表示，这架飞机将进入24小时戒备状态。

该部发布的一段视频显示，战斗机抵达基地，但并未携带导弹，导弹显然是单独运送的。

三架俄罗斯米格-31战斗机降落在加里宁格勒州契卡洛夫斯克空军基地。俄罗斯国防部表示，这三架配备“匕首”高超音速导弹的米格-31战斗机已部署到该地区，作为“战略威慑的补充措施”。（俄罗斯国防部新闻处供图，美联社发布）

在俄罗斯入侵乌克兰的军事行动接近第六个月之际，向加里宁格勒部署“匕首”导弹，此举似乎意在展示俄军威胁北约资产的能力。该地区与北约成员国波兰和立陶宛接壤。

莫斯科强烈批评西方向乌克兰运送武器，指责美国及其盟友煽动冲突。

在一次阅兵式上，一架俄罗斯空军的米格-31K战斗机携带了Kh-47M2“匕首”高超音速导弹。（帕维尔·戈洛夫金/美联社）

俄罗斯军方称，“匕首”导弹射程可达200​​0公里（1243英里），飞行速度为音速的10倍，因此难以拦截。俄罗斯曾使用该武器打击乌克兰境内的多个目标。

加里宁格勒的地理位置使其成为莫斯科对抗其所称的北约敌对政策的最前沿阵地。克里姆林宫有条不紊地加强了其在加里宁格勒的军事力量，为其配备了包括精确制导的“伊斯坎德尔”导弹和一系列防空系统在内的最先进武器。