"I have already said it before and I will repeat it again. We have not launched as many Kinzhal missiles as they allegedly shoot down in their statements every time. Moreover, the number of these 'Ukrainian interceptions,' and who really controls the US complexes is still a big question — exceeds our launches by three times. And they mistake the type of missiles all the time. That is why they miss," Shoigu said.
During Russia's special military operation, Kinzhal missiles were firstly used on March 18. Then, due to the hypersonic speed and ultra-high kinetic energy, the missile's warhead destroyed a protected underground arsenal built during the Soviet era to store special munitions and missiles in a mountainous area in the village of Delyatin, Ivano-Frankivsk region.
On Tuesday, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Kinzhal missile destroyed the US-made Patriot air defense system in Kiev.
The Kinzhal has a range of more than 2,000 km (1,200 miles) and is capable of reaching a speed of up to Mach 10 (12,250 km/h or 7,612 mph) while also performing evasive maneuvers, which helps the Kinzhal to be virtually invulnerable to enemy air missile defense systems.
The Kinzhal ("Dagger") was introduced by Russian President Vladimir Putin in his speech to lawmakers in March 2018, saying that they could penetrate both existing and any future missile defense systems.