RUSSIA has released chilling new footage of its 7,000mph Zircon hypersonic nuke missile that could hit London in five minutes.

Kremlin had previously branded the deadly weapon, which carries a conventional or nuclear warhead, “unstoppable”.

And now terrifying footage shows a Mach 9 Zircon – or Tsirkon – missile being fired, showing how the Russian President could launch a hypersonic nuclear strike on the West.

The clip showing the missile being fired from the Admiral Gorshkov frigate in the White Sea was revealed amid veiled threats Putin and his top officials to go nuclear if any country intervenes with his invasion of Ukraine.

Russia has repeatedly warned the West it will face "untold consequences" if challenged.

In the early hours of 24 February Putin warned of “consequences that you have never faced in your history”, evidently alluding to his willingness to use a nuclear strike.

And fears the devastating conflict could become nuclear mounted when the Russian leader ordered his nuke forces on high alert.

The former chief of the Royal Navy, Lord West said one "miscalculation" could spark a war in Europe – which could spiral into a world war involving the use of nuclear weapons.

And ex-Nato Deputy Supreme Allied Commander of Europe, General Sir Adrian Bradshaw, said Putin's invasion of Ukraine could spark a nuclear war if Russian troops step into Nato territories.

Despite Zelensky's pleas the West has not imposed a no-fly zone fearing it will trigger a wider war with Putin.

At the weekend, in his ongoing decimation of Ukraine, Putin hit a military facility close to the Polish border, bringing the war to NATO’s doorstep.

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A Ukrainian soldier revealed how he was able to make it alive by running to the woods just moments before Putin's forces bombed the barracks.

He said: “Four missiles hit our barracks. We were able to get out as ours was not the first to be hit.

“We heard the other missiles and evacuated. Almost all those in our place got out but not everyone and the missiles came down on where we’d been staying. Ten plus people I know are missing.”

day how cruise missiles thundered into his barracks in a dawn massacre marking a terrifying escalation to the war.

The Zircon is being rushed into service this year after what Putin has described as successful tests.

Russian experts say the missile has “no analogues” in the West.

TV Zvezda – a channel owned by the Russian defence ministry – said of the footage: “The Russian Zircon hypersonic missile's stealth features have been disclosed…

“The speed of the Zircon hypersonic missile is so high that it prevents the opponent's air defence system from detecting its impact in time.

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“In fact, its launch will be known only after the target has been hit.”

The missile also has “variable trajectory” to avoid detection, viewers were told.

“No one will see the missile launch or its flight. They will only see when the missile hits the target,” said the frigate’s commander, first rank captain Igor Krokhmal.

“A surface target, a coastal target. I don't think there will be anything to counter this in the next few years.”

Putin said in December: “Zircon are our newest missiles fired from the sea at sea targets, and land targets.

“The tests were carried out successfully, flawlessly.

“This is a big event for our country, a significant step in improving Russia’s security, in increasing (our) defence capability.”

It is now in “serial production”, and he has previously called the weapon “truly unparalleled … in the world”.

While the footage is only released now, it is believed to date from December, and possibly had been deliberately held back for later to send chills through the West.

At the time, Putin had boasted a salvo launch, but no footage was released.

The latest launch coincided with a Kalibr missile launch from the same warship.

The Zircon has been hailed by Moscow’s state-controlled TV as Putin’s weapon of choice to wipe out American cities in the event of an atomic conflict.

However, its range has been put around 650 miles, although Krohmal has said it can strike at targets at a distance of 930 miles.

It will initially be deployed from Russian frigates, and later from submarines.

A WARNING TO THE WEST

Kremlin deputy premier Yury Borisov has said that Russia had outpaced the West in hypersonic weapons – and intends to maintain its lead.

“We have broken forward, specifically, in the sphere of hypersonic weapons and (those) based on new physical principles,” he said.

“We now have serious advantages in this regard over the leading Western countries – and will try to maintain this position.”

In Putin’s statement at the start of the war, he said: “A few words to those who might be tempted to interfere in the unfolding events from the outside.

"Anyone who tries to hinder us and…create a threat for our country and our people must know that the response will be immediate and will lead to consequences that you have never faced in your history.

"We are ready for any scenario. All necessary decisions in this regard have been taken. I hope you hear me.”

It comes as earlier this month Russia held nuclear drills with subs and land-based missiles.

Russia’s Northern Fleet said in a statement that several of its nuclear submarines were involved in exercises designed to “train manoeuvring in stormy conditions”.

Last week the UK's Ministry of Defence said that Russia has used thermobaric weapons in the invasion of Ukraine.

The deadly weapons are capable of exploding people's lungs by using the oxygen of the surrounding air to produce a high-temperature explosion.

Apart from the hypersonic missiles, Russia's extensive military tech includes a "Star Warrior" weapon that can blast satellites out of orbit as well as a laser cannon.

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The "Star Warrior" missile system is believed to fire 14TS033 two-stage interceptor missiles which on the final version will be able to be armed with a nuclear or kinetic warhead.

And according to military experts, the laser canon performs the same tasks as defense missiles or air defenses.

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