During a massive attack, Russia launched its latest X-69 missiles at Ukraine

During the massive nighttime strike on Ukraine, the enemy deployed 426 air-attack weapons, including X-69 missiles. Despite having a lower speed than the hypersonic "Kinzhal" missiles, this weapon is considered a serious challenge for air defenses due to its ability to "hide" from radar at extremely low altitudes.

This was reported by analysts at Defense Express.

Recently, the X-69 modification has become the main technological challenge for Ukrainian airspace. By design, it is the Russian counterpart to the Western Storm Shadow and Taurus missiles and is a specialized, low-observable version of the Soviet X-59 missile. It was first unveiled in August 2022 and was first used specifically in the war against Ukraine.

Military experts note that while the "Kinzhal" is extremely fast, its launch and high trajectory are easily detected by modern systems.

The Kh-69 missile has the following characteristics:

• Ultra-low flight—at an altitude of only 20 meters, which is below the height of most trees and buildings, making it virtually invisible to radar until it approaches the target.
• Stealth technology – the square cross-section of the fuselage and a special coating reduce reflections on air defense screens.
• Versatile launch platforms – the missiles are launched from Su-34 or Su-35 tactical fighters, allowing an alert to be issued just minutes before impact.
• Range: 290–300 km (stated); actual range: over 400 km.
• Warhead weight – 310 kg.
• Launch weight: 710 kg.
• Guidance system: GLONASS satellite + electro-optical.
• Speed: 700–1,000 km/h.

According to Defense Express, isolated instances of the X-69 missile’s use occurred as early as 2023, though the first confirmed reports date back to February 2024. The most high-profile use occurred in April 2024, when the occupiers destroyed the Trypilska Thermal Power Plant in the Kyiv region. On October 19, 2024, during another round of shelling, an X-69 missile with a cluster warhead was shot down.

Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Illia Yevlash described the X-69 as an “improved version of the X-59” and noted that Western air defense systems are capable of shooting down such missiles.

“We can see that Russia continues to try to manufacture new missiles. However, everything depends on the success of their production—how quickly they can secure various semiconductors, chips, microcircuits, and so on. Of course, the X-69 missile is a new missile for us, so we are, among other things, studying how to counter it,” Yevlash noted.

Analysts add that Russia has not yet established large-scale serial production of the X-69, so stocks of this weapon are limited. “The serial numbers on the missile, which was examined in detail in February 2024, corresponded to production at the end of 2023,” notes Defence Express.