Ukrainian authorities have confirmed the discovery of wreckage from Russia’s latest stealth cruise missile, the Kh-69, following a large-scale airstrike on Kyiv.
Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (DSNS) reported that bomb disposal teams safely neutralized the warhead of the downed Kh-69 missile, which landed in the yard of a residential home on the outskirts of Kyiv.
“DSNS sappers disarmed the warhead of a downed Russian Kh-69 missile, which had landed near a residential building after yet another enemy air attack and could have detonated at any moment,” the agency said.
The ordnance was carefully loaded with specialized equipment and transported for destruction in a secure location.
The Ukrainian military said that the missile was intercepted before it reached its target. They noted that the Kh-69 carried a cluster warhead.
Vadim Kushnikov, executive director of the Militarnyi and an aviation expert, said the weapon represents a serious evolution in Russia’s strike capabilities.
“As for the combat range of this cruise missile, observers are citing figures up to 400 kilometers, which correlates with statements by Raduga Design Bureau, the developer of this system, at 290 kilometers,” Kushnikov said.
Kushnikov noted that Ukraine has previously faced Kh-69 attacks, including strikes against the Trypillia Thermal Power Plant in 2024.
“We saw that this weapon demonstrated considerable destructive potential, as the power plant was taken out of operation for a long period of time,” he said.
On deployment platforms, Kushnikov explained the Kh-69’s lineage within Russia’s air-to-surface missile family:
“The Kh-69 is a continuation of the Kh-59 series, specifically the MK2. The latter could be used with a wide range of Russian fighters and bombers. The most likely launch platform is the Su-57, but it can also be deployed from Su-30MK, Su-35, and Su-34 aircraft,” Kushnikov said. “It is worth noting that the missile was primarily designed for use with Russia’s fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jet, as suggested by its ergonomic design and compatibility with internal weapons bays.”
The air raid over Kyiv was part of a broader wave of strikes across Ukraine, which officials said included dozens of drones and missiles launched at critical infrastructure.