Lyce · Hybrid Watch

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Three MiG-31I fighters with nuclear-capable Kinzhal missiles moved to Chkalovsk air base in Kaliningrad.

On 18 August 2022, three MiG-31I aircraft carrying Kinzhal air-launched hypersonic missiles were relocated to Chkalovsk air base in Kaliningrad, the Russian Ministry of Defence announced. The ministry stated that the aircraft would be on round-the-clock combat duty “as part of additional strategic deterrence measures”. The Kinzhal is a dual-capable missile that can carry a nuclear warhead. The deployment placed it inside the Kaliningrad exclave, surrounded by NATO territory, six months after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. No immediate NATO, Polish or Lithuanian reaction was reported in the coverage reviewed.

Occurrence
2022-08-18
Publication
2022-08-18
First observed
2026-10-18T10:30:14.759Z
Review status
Not assessed
Countries
RU
Updated
2026-10-18T10:30:14.759Z

Attribution

Official

Facts

No facts

Sources

  1. Role
    discovery_lead
    Date
    2022-08-18T19:24:40Z

    On 18 August 2022, three MiG-31I aircraft carrying Kinzhal air-launched hypersonic missiles were relocated to Chkalovsk air base in Kaliningrad, the Russian Ministry of Defence announced. The ministry stated that the aircraft would be on round-the-clock combat duty “as part of additional strategic deterrence measures”. The Kinzhal is a dual-capable missile that can carry a nuclear warhead. The deployment placed it inside the Kaliningrad exclave, surrounded by NATO territory, six months after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. No immediate NATO, Polish or Lithuanian reaction was reported in the coverage reviewed.