hypersonic missiles

The Russian Kinzhal was intercepted during an air strike over Kyiv earlier this week, a Ukrainian official said. It is the first known time the sophisticated Russian missile has been shot down.

A Russian barrage on Ukrainian targets Thursday included the use of the Kinzhal hypersonic missile — a weapon that can travel four times the speed of sound and is thought to be nuclear-capable.

Ukrainian officials say at least six people were killed in Lviv and other cities in a Russian bombardment that included advanced Kinzhal missiles, which air defenses can't shoot down.

The Russian navy on Saturday conducted another test of a prospective hypersonic missile, a demonstration of the military's long-range strike capability amid the fighting in Ukraine.

The announcement comes amid growing concern by the U.S. and its allies about China's growing military assertiveness and Washington's concern of Russia using the weapons in Ukraine.