Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Mar 11, 2025

Russian missile scientists arrested after 'undefeatable' Kinzhals 'shot down'

Russian missile scientists arrested after 'undefeatable' Kinzhals 'shot down'

Three of Vladimir Putin’s top hypersonic scientists have been detained on suspicion of high treason – after Ukraine claimed to have shot down a volley of ‘undefeatable’ missiles.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the eminent academics, Anatoly Maslov, Alexander Shiplyuk and Valery Zvegintsev, all face ‘very serious accusations’.

The trio have all worked on the weapons for years and were among the authors of a book chapter entitled ‘Hypersonic Short-Duration Facilities for Aerodynamic Research at ITAM, Russia’.

Putin has long boasted that Russia is the global leader in hypersonic missiles and unveiled his ‘Kinzhal’ rockets in 2018, hailing them as ‘undefeatable’ by any present or future defence systems.

But he faced fresh humiliation on Tuesday when Ukraine said it had destroyed six of them in a single night.

The arrests have spread alarm through Russia’s scientific community.

Colleagues of the three men published an open letter protesting their innocence and warning the prosecutions posed serious risk to Russian science.

‘We know each of them as a patriot and a decent person who is not capable of doing what the investigating authorities suspect them of,’ they said.

‘In this situation, we are not only afraid for the fate of our colleagues. We just do not understand how to continue to do our job.’

The letter cited the case of Dmitry Kolker, a Siberian scientist who was arrested last year on suspicion of state treason and flown to Moscow despite suffering from advanced pancreatic cancer.

The laser specialist died two days later. It said such cases were having a chilling effect on young Russian scientists.

‘Even now, the best students refuse to come to work with us, and our best young employees are leaving science,’ the letter stated.

‘A number of research areas that are critically important to laying the fundamental groundwork for the aerospace technology of the future are simply closing because employees are afraid to engage in such research.’

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the eminent academics all face ‘very serious accusations’


Asked about the letter, Peskov said: ‘We have indeed seen this appeal, but Russian special services are working on this. They are doing their job. These are very serious accusations.’

Ukrainian air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said the country’s air defences, bolstered by Western-supplied systems, had thwarted an intense Russian attack.

He said the barrage included six Kinzhal aero-ballistic hypersonic missiles, the most fired in a single attack in the war so far. All were shot down, he added.

Putin has repeatedly touted the Kinzhals as providing a key strategic competitive advantage and among the most advanced weapons in his country’s arsenal.

The missiles are difficult to detect and intercept because of their hypersonic speed and manoeuvrability.

If Ukraine’s claim of having shot down six fired Tuesday is confirmed, it would mark another blow to Putin’s war efforts and show the increasing effectiveness of the country’s air defences.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu contested the Ukrainian claims, telling the state-run RIA-Novosti news agency: ‘We have not launched as many Kinzhals as they allegedly shoot down every time with their statements.’

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Mark Carney Chosen as Head of Canada's Liberal Party, Poised to Assume Role of Prime Minister
Russia Kicks Out British Diplomats in Escalated Tensions
Significant Rescue Effort in Progress Following Collision Between Tanker and Cargo Ship in the North Sea
Pope Francis Exhibits Signs of Recovery, Yet Remains Hospitalized
Report of Radioactive Coolant Leak at Europe’s Largest Nuclear Reactor
Trump Administration Launches Self-Deportation App for Undocumented Immigrants
Syria Wraps Up Military Campaign Amid Extensive Violence and Large-Scale Executions
Trump Remarks on the Arrest of a Pro-Palestinian Student at Columbia University
Former Labour MP Mike Amesbury to Resign Following Assault Conviction
Chancellor Rachel Reeves Prepares for Spring Statement Amid Economic Challenges
Home Secretary Denies Public Inquiry into Sir David Amess's Murder
UK Energy Bills to Increase by 80 Pence to Support Discounts for Households Near Pylons
Russian Teacher Under Investigation After Explicit Content Incident in Classroom
Poland Plans Comprehensive Military Training for All Adult Males Amid Enhanced Defense Initiatives
Lithuania Withdraws from Cluster Munitions Convention Amid Security Concerns
Escalating Vandalism Targets Tesla Amid Political Controversies
Former Security Adviser Cautions That UK Troop Presence in Ukraine May Last for Years
Demonstrations Break Out as Individual Ascends Big Ben Carrying Palestinian Flag
Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe Suspended Amid Allegations of Violence and Bullying
Private spacecraft Athena has successfully landed close to the Moon's south pole.
Trump Administration Unveils Gold Card Visa Program Exempting Foreign Assets from U.S. Taxation
Trump Holds White House Summit for Cryptocurrency Leaders Amid Financial Scandals
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Highlights the Importance of the US in Attaining Peace
Trump Discovers Negotiating with Russia More Manageable than with Ukraine During Ongoing Conflict
Google Eliminates Women's History Month and Various Cultural Celebrations from Calendar App
Pope Francis Offers Thanks Despite Continuing Health Issues
King Charles III Reveals Curated Playlist on Apple Music in Anticipation of Commonwealth Day.
Disney's Biggest Cruise Ship Set to Debut in Singapore
Pamela Bach-Hasselhoff, the former 'Baywatch' star, tragically took her own life at the age of 62.
NYPD Detective Encounters Criticism for Viral Music Video Appearance
Trinity College Dublin Honors Eavan Boland by Naming a Building After Her, Signifying a Landmark Achievement
Ex-UK Ambassador Cautions Against a Significant Change in US-UK Relations.
UK Government Confirms Prohibition on Issuing New North Sea Drilling Licences During Shift to Clean Energy
Macron Cautions Against Growing Russian Aggression as U.S. Support for Ukraine Evolves
Trump Offers Short-Term Tariff Waiver to Automakers During Trade Strains
Tesla's UK Sales Increase Despite a Wider European Decline and CEO's Political Engagement
Court Rejects Elon Musk's Request to Block OpenAI's Shift to For-Profit, Accelerates Trial Schedule
Global Scam Operation Takes Advantage of Phony Celebrity Promotions to Swindle Thousands
Assurances from Barclays Chairman Postponed Investigation into CEO's Connections with Jeffrey Epstein
Bank of England Cautions of 'Significant' Risk to UK Economy Due to US Trade Policies
Trump Emphasizes Peace Initiatives and Trade Strategies in Recent Address to Congress
US Administration Dismisses Gaza Reconstruction Plan Proposed by Arab Leaders
Historic Surge in Americans Seeking UK Citizenship Following Trump's Re-election
EU Member States Endorse Gradual Rollout of Entry/Exit System
President Trump Indicates Willingness to Restore U.S.-Ukraine Relations Following Recent Strains
Macron Calls on Europe to Bolster Defense in the Face of Russian Threats and Possible U.S. Withdrawal
Heartbreaking Passing of 20-Year-Old American Bodybuilder Sparks Health Worries
Russia Announces Finalization of Passport Distribution in Occupied Areas of Ukraine.
Macron Contemplates Joint Trip to Washington with Zelensky and the Prime Minister of the UK.
Bank of England Warns of Impacts from U.S. Tariffs on UK Consumers
×