Ukraine war: Russian warship with hypersonic cruise missiles could be sailing towards conflict zone

A Russian naval frigate armed with hypersonic missile systems will continue a long-distance deployment mission after completing a joint naval exercise with Chinese and South African navies, and may join other Russian forces in the Ukraine war, analysts said.

The Admiral Gorshkov, which was part of a Russian naval flotilla that included the seagoing tanker Kama, were sailing to new waters after three days of naval drills off the South African city of Cape Town on Monday, Russian state-owned news agency Tass reported.

Citing the press office for the Russian Northern Fleet, which includes the frigate and support ship, Tass said the warships took part in artillery drills, mine sweeping and maritime rescue operations during the exercises.

“It is possible the [ship-based] Zircon missile system would be deployed by the frigate to support the Black Sea Fleet, whose combat capability was weakened in the aftermath of the sinking of its flagship, the Moskva guided missile cruiser [last April],” said Song Zhongping, a former instructor from the People’s Liberation Army.