Russian air threats keep Poland on high alert
The Operational Command of the Armed Forces has informed that fighter jets were scrambled in Poland, and ground-based air defence systems have reached the highest state of readiness. This is a consequence of Russia's massive attack on Ukraine, including the launch of the Russian MiG-31K fighter jet.
"Attention, due to another attack by the Russian Federation conducting strikes using cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles on targets including those located in western Ukraine, military aviation operations have begun in our airspace," the Operational Command of the Armed Forces informed on Friday morning.
The aircraft causing alarm in Ukraine
According to media reports, the Russian forces used a large number of missile rockets. Furthermore, the Russian Federation scrambled a MiG-31K fighter jet. It only takes one such aircraft to take off from a Russian airbase, and an alarm appears in the defenders' territory. Fears are not unfounded, as the MiG-31K can carry Kh-47 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles with a range of about 2,000 kilometres under its deck.
Kinzhal missiles
Although the combat value of the mentioned Kinzhal missiles has been questioned since the beginning of the war, they still pose a significant challenge for Ukraine's air defence. The Kinzhal measures about 7 metres in length and weighs approximately 4,500 kilograms, while its speed can reach up to 10 Mach; however, more realistic estimates suggest 8 Mach, or about 9,800 kilometres per hour. This makes the missile one of the most dangerous weapons remaining in the Russian arsenal today.
It's worth noting that the Kinzhals are used by Russians regularly, causing an alarm to be triggered in Ukraine each time. It is unknown how many of these missiles the Russian Federation has in its warehouses, but according to estimates from September 2024 (cited by the "Forbes" newspaper and confirmed in Ukrainian intelligence structures), Moscow had about 55 such missiles at its disposal. Monthly production is estimated at 2 to 6 units.
