On Sunday, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin rejected Russia’s use of hypersonic missiles in its invasion of Ukraine as a “turning point” in the conflict unleashed by Moscow, rather than a “gaining momentum”.
“I do not see this as a turning point. I think Russia uses them [mÃsseis hipersónicos] To gain speed. We have seen them attacking cities, towns and civilians. We think they will continue to do so, but I do not think it’s going to change the rules of the game, “Austin told CBS, an American television channel, according to EFE.
The Pentagon chief warned that Russia’s use of chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine would be “a very serious move” and would receive a “strong response from the United States and the international community.”
Lloyd Austin stressed that Moscow’s nuclear war was “extremely dangerous,” but expressed itself “confident in the security capabilities” of the United States and its allies.
In an interview with CBS, Austin accused Russia of “deliberately” attacking civilians “because of the” stagnation “of military action.
“It simply came to our notice then. But I take off my hat on the hard-working Ukrainian people, “said the Pentagon chief.
The Kremlin this Sunday confirmed the use of Kinsal hypersonic missiles to destroy “a large fuel depot” in the city of Konstantinovka in southern Ukraine.
This is the second case confirmed by Russian authorities for the use of the weapon in Ukraine and around the world, and so far those high-precision missiles have a range of more than two thousand kilometers and ten times the speed. Sound was used only in military experiments.
One of the main characteristics of the weapon is the possibility of always being maneuvered during its trajectory, which makes its interception very difficult.
On February 24, Russia launched a military offensive in Ukraine that killed at least 902 civilians and wounded 1,459 civilians, including more than 170 children, and killed more than 10 million, including more than 3.3 million people in neighboring countries, according to the latest UN report.
According to the United Nations, about 13 million people in Ukraine are in need of humanitarian assistance.
The Russian invasion was generally condemned by the international community, which responded by sending arms to Ukraine and strengthening economic and political sanctions on Moscow.