Putin Deploys New Zircon Hypersonic Cruise Missiles to Atlantic 

Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to the report of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Commander of the Admiral Gorshkov frigate Igor Krokhmal before a ceremony to launch the Admiral Gorshkov frigate to the combat mission, via a video conference in Moscow, Russia, on January 4, 2023. (AFP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to the report of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Commander of the Admiral Gorshkov frigate Igor Krokhmal before a ceremony to launch the Admiral Gorshkov frigate to the combat mission, via a video conference in Moscow, Russia, on January 4, 2023. (AFP)
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Putin Deploys New Zircon Hypersonic Cruise Missiles to Atlantic 

Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to the report of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Commander of the Admiral Gorshkov frigate Igor Krokhmal before a ceremony to launch the Admiral Gorshkov frigate to the combat mission, via a video conference in Moscow, Russia, on January 4, 2023. (AFP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to the report of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Commander of the Admiral Gorshkov frigate Igor Krokhmal before a ceremony to launch the Admiral Gorshkov frigate to the combat mission, via a video conference in Moscow, Russia, on January 4, 2023. (AFP)

President Vladimir Putin sent a frigate to the Atlantic Ocean armed with new generation hypersonic cruise missiles on Wednesday, a signal to the West that Russia will not back down over the war in Ukraine.  

Russia, China and the United States are in a race to develop hypersonic weapons which are seen as a way to gain an edge over any adversary because of their speeds - above five times the speed of sound - and maneuverability.  

In a video conference with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Igor Krokhmal, commander of the frigate named "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov", Putin said the ship was armed with Zircon (Tsirkon) hypersonic weapons.  

"This time the ship is equipped with the latest hypersonic missile system - 'Zircon'," said Putin. "I am sure that such powerful weapons will reliably protect Russia from potential external threats."  

The weapons, Putin said, had "no analogues in any country in the world".  

More than 10 months since Putin sent troops into Ukraine, there is no end in sight to the war which has descended into a grinding winter artillery battle that has killed and wounded tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides.  

Russia has also used hypersonic Kinzhal (Dagger) missiles in Ukraine.  

Along with the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle which entered combat duty in 2019, the Zircon forms the centerpiece of Russia's hypersonic arsenal.  

Russia sees the weapons as a way to pierce increasingly sophisticated US missile defenses which Putin has warned could one day shoot down Russian nuclear missiles. 

Atlantic voyage  

Shoigu said the Gorshkov would sail to the Atlantic and Indian oceans and to the Mediterranean Sea. 

"This ship, armed with 'Zircons', is capable of delivering pinpoint and powerful strikes against the enemy at sea and on land," Shoigu said.  

Shoigu said the hypersonic missiles could overcome any missile defense system. The missiles fly at nine times the speed of sound and have a range of over 1,000 km, Shoigu said.  

The main tasks of the voyage were to counter threats to Russia and to maintain "regional peace and stability jointly with friendly countries", Shoigu said.  

A US Congressional Research Service report on hypersonic weapons says that Russian and Chinese hypersonic missiles are designed to be used with nuclear warheads.  

The target of a hypersonic weapon is much more difficult to calculate than for intercontinental ballistic missiles because of their maneuverability.  

Beyond Russia, the United States and China, a range of other countries are developing hypersonic weapons including Australia, France, Germany, South Korea, North Korea and Japan, according to the US Congressional Research Service. 



New Zealand MP Who Called Opponents Spineless over Gaza Is Ejected from Parliament a 2nd Time 

In this image made from video, New Zealand lawmaker Chlöe Swarbrick talks to the media after she was thrown out of Parliament, in Wellington, New Zealand, Tuesday, Aug.3, 2025 (Chino Barrett-Lovie/Stuff via AP)
In this image made from video, New Zealand lawmaker Chlöe Swarbrick talks to the media after she was thrown out of Parliament, in Wellington, New Zealand, Tuesday, Aug.3, 2025 (Chino Barrett-Lovie/Stuff via AP)
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New Zealand MP Who Called Opponents Spineless over Gaza Is Ejected from Parliament a 2nd Time 

In this image made from video, New Zealand lawmaker Chlöe Swarbrick talks to the media after she was thrown out of Parliament, in Wellington, New Zealand, Tuesday, Aug.3, 2025 (Chino Barrett-Lovie/Stuff via AP)
In this image made from video, New Zealand lawmaker Chlöe Swarbrick talks to the media after she was thrown out of Parliament, in Wellington, New Zealand, Tuesday, Aug.3, 2025 (Chino Barrett-Lovie/Stuff via AP)

A New Zealand lawmaker who was thrown out of Parliament for calling her opponents spineless during a fiery debate about a Palestinian state was ejected again on Wednesday when she refused to apologize for the remark.

Chlöe Swarbrick, co-leader of the left-leaning Green Party and part of the opposition bloc, was ordered to leave parliament on Tuesday over a speech in which she called for government lawmakers “with a spine” to endorse her proposal for New Zealand to impose sanctions on Israel over the war in Gaza.

She was hit with a three-day ban — lengthy by New Zealand parliamentary standards — but returned the next day only to be ejected a second time.

Her censure came amid fraught scenes in Parliament in Wellington on Tuesday as opponents rebuked the government for not moving to recognize an independent Palestinian state, days after neighboring Australia pledged to do so. Countries including France, Britain and Canada are also expected to recognize a state of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September.

“We are one of the very few countries in the world who so far refuse to acknowledge the absolute bare minimum,” Swarbrick said.

The Green party lawmaker was abruptly ejected from the debating chamber when she urged government politicians to join her in a proposal to sanction Israel, which currently wouldn’t have enough votes to pass into law.

“If we can find six of 68 government MPs with a spine, we can stand on the right side of history,” Swarbrick said, referring to other Members of Parliament.

“That is completely unacceptable to make that statement,” Speaker Gerry Brownlee interrupted. “Withdraw it and apologize.”

The Green politician refused. Brownlee told her to leave the debating chamber for the rest of the week.

“Happily,” Swarbrick said.

The standoff resumed when Swarbrick took her seat again on Wednesday despite the ban and Brownlee asked again if she would apologize. Swarbrick declined and was ejected once more, yelling “free Palestine” as she went.

Brownlee took the serious step, rare in New Zealand’s Parliament, of taking a vote to “name” Swarbrick for her misconduct, a ruling that means a legislator is formally suspended with their pay docked. The vote passed, with all government lawmakers endorsing it.

Opposition lawmakers claim double standards

The measure provoked fresh debate in Parliament about punishments for unruly behavior. Government lawmakers voted in June to enact unprecedented lengthy bans of opposition Māori Party lawmakers who performed a haka chant to protest a controversial vote.

On Wednesday, opposition politicians decried Swarbrick’s penalty as unusually severe, with lawmaker Willie Jackson highlighting his own ban of just 30 minutes for calling one of his colleagues a liar, before he was allowed to resume his seat without an apology.

In another recent example, a government politician used an eye-watering expletive without censure, supporters of Swarbrick said.

Several others had escaped punishment in recent years when using the word “spineless” about their opponents. Opposition leader Chris Hipkins said it was unprecedented for a lawmaker to be ejected from Parliament for a second day over the same offense.

Brownlee, however, said he had drawn a line when Swarbrick directed a personal insult at all 68 government lawmakers, including him.

“We have so many threats and other stuff being directed at Members of Parliament,” he said. “If we don’t change the behavior in here, nothing will change outside.”

Meanwhile, the government continues to mull recognition of an independent Palestinian state. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon Wednesday made his most strident rebuke yet of Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the Israel leader “has lost the plot” on the “human catastrophe” in Gaza.

“I think Netanyahu has gone way too far,” Luxon told reporters. “He is not listening to the international community and that is unacceptable.”

While senior New Zealand officials, including Luxon, have said recognition of Palestine from their government was “a matter of not if, but when,” his Cabinet has yet to endorse a change of position. A decision will be made in September after further consideration, Luxon said Monday.