Russian war aircraft, equipped with Kinjal hypersonic missiles, overdated the Barents Sea during the Zapad Military

The Russian MIG-31 fighter jets, equipped with Hipersonic Ballistic missiles, made a four-hour flight above the Neutral waters of the Barents Sea, during the “Zapad 2025” military exercises, the Interfax News Agency, quoted by Reuters, told Saturday.

Russia and Belarus began the common military exercises on Friday, at a tense moment of the Russian war in Ukraine and a few days after Poland shot down Russian drones that entered its air space.

Kinjal (which means “dagger” in Russian) is a hypersonic ballistic missile launched from the air, capable of transporting nuclear or conventional foci. Russia has used these missiles against Ukraine, says Reuters.

What is followed with the “Zapad” exercise

Russia and Belarus started on Friday an important common military exercise near NATO borders, which will involve maneuvers in both countries and the Baltic Sea and the Barents Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

“The objectives of the exercises are to improve the competences of the commanders and of the General States, the level of cooperation and the training on the field of regional and coalition groups,” the Ministry of Defense on Telegram said.

In a first stage, the troops will simulate the rejection of an attack against Russia and Belarus, whose alliance is known as the State of the Union.

The second stage, explains the ministry, will focus on “restoring the territorial integrity of the state of the Union and crushing the enemy, including with the participation of a group of forces from friendly states.”

The exercises, which will end on September 16, include simulations for the use of tactical nuclear weapons and Oreșnik hypersonic ballistic missiles.