A new incident has been reported in the Black Sea region: a Russian Kh-22 supersonic missile has struck a Ukrainian-controlled drilling platform located east of Snake Island. Video footage of the attack, released on June 9, 2025, confirms the missile hit, causing significant destruction. The episode is the latest evidence of an escalation in the strategically important Black Sea waters, where both sides are actively using high-tech weaponry to assert their control.

According to Aquilla, the strike was carried out by a Tu-22M3 strategic bomber, which fired an Kh-22 missile, known to NATO as the AS-4 “Kitchen.” This anti-ship cruise missile, developed during the Soviet era, has a speed of up to Mach 4,6 and a range of up to 600 km, making it an extremely difficult target for air defense systems. The platform, located about 45 km from the Danube Delta, was used by Ukraine to house radar equipment and air defense systems, including modernized Tor systems. The strike was likely aimed at weakening Ukrainian defense capabilities in the region, where Snake Island and adjacent waters play a key role in controlling sea lanes.