CNN
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Russian warships armed with advanced hypersonic missiles have completed exercises in the Atlantic Ocean ahead of joint naval exercises with Chinese and South African navies scheduled for next month, the Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday.
Russia’s Admiral Gorshkov frigate, armed with Zircon hypersonic missiles, underwent training “to carry out missile strikes against enemy surface targets,” the ship’s captain, Igor Krokhmar, said in a video released by the ministry.
The exercise, described by state news agency TASS as an “electronic launch” or virtual simulation, confirmed the “designed characteristics” of the missile system, Krokumar said, pointing to the missile’s ability to reach distances of more than 900 kilometers. (559 miles).
The test was part of a long voyage for the Admiral Gorshkov frigate, which was launched earlier this month, and Russian state media said the warship was dispatched with hypersonic missiles. The deployment will also include joint exercises with Chinese and South African navies off the coast of South Africa, according to Moscow and Pretoria.
The exercise, which marks the one-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, is both a show of strength and a reminder that despite international condemnation, Russia is not alone on the world stage. It is also an opportunity to show of that unjust war.
The White House on Monday said the U.S.there is concern While Russia is waging a brutal war against Ukraine, about any country… campaigning with Russia. ”
The US Coast Guard says this vessel off the coast of Hawaii is a Russian spy vessel
At a joint meeting in Pretoria on Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor defended the naval exercises, with Lavrov saying Russia did not want a so-called “scandal” about the exercises.
Pandor, who smiled and posed with Lavrov as he shook hands, insisted that it was normal practice for all nations to hold military exercises with “friends around the world.”
“No country should be forced to enforce with other partners. There was no explicit mention of the criticism directed at South Africa.
so separately stated The South African Ministry of Defense said in detail of the joint exercises to be held from 17-27 February that “contrary to claims” by critics, South Africa “has not renounced its neutrality in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine”. “We continue to appeal to both parties,” he said. Dialogue as a solution to current conflicts. ”
China has not issued a statement directly confirming its participation, but the defense ministry’s website published an article on state news agency Xinhua on Monday, referring to South Africa’s announcement of the drill. celebrating.
The United States has repeatedly warned Beijing, which has a close strategic partnership with Russia, not to provide material support to Russian forces in the war in Ukraine.
The Biden administration recently raised concerns with China over evidence suggesting Chinese companies sold non-lethal equipment to Russia for use in Ukraine, but whether Beijing is aware of the intended deal. was not clear.
South Africa said the joint maritime exercise will involve about 350 South African Defense Force personnel, along with their Russian and Chinese counterparts. A previous exercise between the three navies took place in 2019.
It is the first time that the Admiral Gorshkov frigate, armed with Zircon hypersonic missiles, has been included in the training. First test late 2021.
The long-range weapon, which Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier this month “has no analogue in any country in the world,” travels more than five times the speed of sound and is more difficult to detect and intercept.
According to Tass, the frigate was actively involved in testing missiles designed and built by the Institute of Mechanical Engineering Research and Production, part of the Russian Tactical Missile Company.
The current deployment, which began on January 4, was expected to take the ship through the Mediterranean and into the Indian Ocean, Tass reported at the time.
