After more than a year-long absence, Russia has sent two MiG-31K fighter jets, capable of carrying Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, to Belarus.
Missile Range of 2,000 Kilometers
This move, first reported by Belaruski Hajun, a military monitoring group, has sparked concerns over Ukraine’s security, given the jets' ability to strike any target within Ukraine's borders.
The MiG-31K is one of Russia’s most advanced aircraft, known for its speed and capacity to carry powerful weapons like the Kinzhal missiles, accordin to WP.
These missiles have a range of up to 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles), making them a potent threat from Belarusian airspace.
Their speed, reported by Russia to be as fast as Mach 10 (10 times the speed of sound), poses a significant challenge to air defense systems, with only a few, like the American Patriot systems, able to effectively intercept them.
Symbolic Redeployment
The return of these jets to Belarus marks the first time since April 2023 that they have been stationed in the country. While the exact reason for their redeployment remains unclear, experts are concerned about the potential for long-range missile strikes on Ukraine.
From a strategic standpoint, the MiG-31K’s ability to carry Kinzhal missiles puts all of Ukraine within their reach, causing heightened anxiety in Kyiv and across Ukraine.
However, some Ukrainian experts, such as aviation analyst Konstantin Kryvolap, believe this redeployment may be more symbolic than operational.
He argues that Russia is unlikely to use these jets in direct attacks from Belarus due to the risk of losing such valuable assets.
Instead, Kryvolap suggests Russia might launch missiles from its own territory, allowing them to travel through Belarusian airspace before reaching Ukrainian targets. This tactic was reportedly used in a recent strike on Lviv.
