Russian Missile Mishap Embarrasses Putin After Striking Own Territory

In a notable turn of events, a missile believed to be heading towards Ukraine veered off course and detonated in Russian territory, causing a large explosion. The incident occurred in the Lipetsk region, approximately 350 miles away from the ongoing conflict, and was captured on a dash cam. The missile, thought to be either a Kh-22 or Kh-32, created a significant crater and was responsible for cutting power to 540 homes.

Initial claims from the local administration suggested that the explosion was caused by non-operational missile debris; however, this assertion has been met with skepticism from various sources who pointed out that the missile's distinctive shape was visible and that debris would not have produced such a massive explosion. Reports from the Exilenova Telegram channel confirmed that the missile was indeed a Kh-22/Kh-32 that fell in the Lipetsk area. Residents living nearby reported hearing a loud blast, resulting in the loss of electricity, water, and even mobile service.

This event is not isolated, as Russia has experienced similar mishaps before. Last January, the Russian Defence Ministry admitted that one of its aircraft mistakenly released a munition over a village in Voronezh, which again resulted in property damage but, fortunately, no injuries. Throughout the ongoing conflict, President Putin has employed Kh-22 and Kh-32 missiles to target Ukraine, but the effectiveness and control of these weapons have come under scrutiny following this recent incident.