Zircon

Three 3M22 Zircon hypersonic Cruise Missiles were among the weapons deployed in the 690-weapon barrage of 24 May 2026 that also included the war's first dual Oreshnik launch, making it the most destructive single attack on Kyiv of the full-scale war. Zircon's inclusion in the salvo was notable: while Kinzhal and Iskander launches have become regular features of large Russian strikes, Zircon deployments remain relatively infrequent and costly.

Zircon (NATO reporting name SS-N-33) is a Mach 9 scramjet-powered hypersonic cruise missile primarily designed for anti-ship and land-attack roles. It follows a semi-ballistic flight profile and is estimated to carry a payload of roughly 300 kg over a range of 500-750 km depending on profile. It is nuclear-capable. Unlike Oreshnik, Zircon has been intercepted by Ukrainian Patriot systems on at least one occasion in 2026, establishing that it is not entirely undefeatable at the system level, though The Intercept cost in missiles is high. It is launched from surface ships and submarines of the Russian Northern Fleet.

Zircon's land-attack role has grown through the war as Russia deploys it to exhaust expensive Western air-defence interceptors alongside cheaper Shahed-136 drones. Each Zircon is estimated to cost significantly more than a Kalibr cruise missile, making its use in mass barrages an indicator of Russian willingness to spend strategic assets.