By KYIV. Nov 10 (Interfax-Ukraine) – A Russian KH-31 (AS-17 KRYPTON) missile, which hit a Liberian flagged civilian cargo ship on November 8, was likely being used to target Ukrainian military radars in the area, according to the UK Defense Intelligence updates published by the UK Ministry of Defense on X social network (formerly Twitter) on Friday.
“It is a realistic possibility the air launched AS-17 missile in the absence of a live military radar signature, locked onto the civilian ship’s radar. If so, this would demonstrate poor weapons employment tactics on behalf of the Russian pilot,” it said.
According to the statement, Ukraine’s Infrastructure Minister said the ship was loading freight iron ore destined for China.
As reported, on November 8, a Russian missile fired by tactical aircraft in the Black Sea hit a Liberian flagged civilian vessel when it was entering a Ukrainian port. As a result of the strike, a pilot was killed, one employee of the port and three crew members, who are the citizens of Philippines, were injured. One of the injured crew members was hospitalized.
