Russia has launched a Zircon hypersonic missile in the Barents Sea as part of the Zapad-2025 military exercise, destroying its target with a direct hit. The Russian-Belarusian military exercise, which will take place from September 12 to 16, will also include exercises in the use of nuclear weapons. Although Moscow officially says 7,000-8,000 troops are involved, Lithuanian intelligence estimates suggest that 30,000 troops are actually taking part in the exercise, which has sparked international concern.

Russia has launched a Zircon hypersonic cruise missile in the Barents Sea as part of the Zapad military exercises, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday. The missile destroyed its designated target with a direct hit, the ministry said: “According to objective observation data received in real time, the target was destroyed with a direct hit,” it wrote, as summarized by Reuters.

The 3M22 Zircon was developed for strikes against surface ships and land targets, and can be launched from both ships and submarines.

According to official data, the weapon is capable of traveling eight times the speed of sound, and its range, depending on the flight profile, can range from several hundred to a thousand kilometers. Its high speed and maneuverability make it extremely difficult to intercept.

Russians test nuclear weapons on NATO's eastern border

We have previously reported that on September 12, the joint Russian-Belarusian Zapad 2025 military exercises, which also simulate the use of nuclear weapons, began on NATO's eastern border. The exercises began a few days after 19 Russian drones were shot down in Polish airspace. International leaders have expressed concern about the risk of escalation, while Poland and Latvia have closed their borders and Warsaw has erected barbed wire barriers.

The military exercises will last until September 16, and according to official data, 7-8 thousand soldiers will take part in them, which is much less than in previous ones. However, according to information from Lithuanian intelligence, a total of 30 thousand soldiers may be involved, of which 8 thousand will be stationed in Belarus. The military exercises will be held at various training grounds in the two countries, as well as in the Baltic and Barents Seas. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the goal is to practice joint command of the armed forces, regional and coalition forces in the event of aggression against the Russian-Belarusian Federal State.

They are also testing several joint approaches to counter threats and stabilize the situation on the border. The previous Zapad military exercise took place four years ago, and was used by Russia to deploy artillery and heavy weapons in preparation for an attack on Ukraine. The 2021 event was attended by around 200,000 people.