Putin observes Russian Navy military exercise

MOSCOW

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday observed a joint military exercise of the Russian Black Sea and Northern Navy.

Hypersonic Kinzhal missiles, shot from MiG-31 fighter jets, hit targets launched from one of the country's testing areas, the Kremlin said in a statement.

A number of submarines carried out missile tests from surface and submerged conditions, it added.

Kinzhal (Dagger) hypersonic missile systems entered operational service of the Russian Armed Forces last year.

Putin characterized them as "unique weapons" that "not a single country possesses."