Russia’s Su-34 Plus Kinzhal Missile is a New Disaster Recipe for Ukraine

A significant event has unfolded a year and a half after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which intensified the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian conflict that began in 2014. The Russian Aerospace Forces, also known as VKS, achieved an extraordinary feat. They successfully deployed Moscow’s highly regarded Kinzhal hypersonic missile using an Su-34 fighter-bomber for the very first time during a special operation in Ukraine. In recognition of this remarkable achievement, the crew of the inaugural Su-34 multipurpose bomber aircraft to launch a Kinzhal air-launched hypersonic missile in Ukraine during the ongoing conflict is set to receive a prestigious state award. This information, reportedly obtained by TASS, originates from a source within the Russian Ministry of Defense. Considering the recent progress made by the Russian Air Force, what makes this development so noteworthy that it warrants a state award for the first crew that successfully deployed the Kinzhal missile using the Su-34 bomber? Hasn’t the Kinzhal missile been a standard part of Russian missile strikes on Ukraine since the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion? What sets this particular event apart?