Russian forces fired two hypersonic missiles in quick succession and destroyed two U.S.-made HIMARS rocket launchers used by Ukraine in the Sumy region, according to the country's defense ministry.

Arial footage shows thick plumes of gray smoke over the sky after Russia fired two missiles on Ukraine's troops.

The Russia Defense Ministry said a Ukrainian rocket launcher fired a barrage of missiles on Russian forces before they fired a missile and hit the M142 HIMARS.

Russia also claims to have struck six-rocket reloading pods and two service vehicles.

Russian forces fired two hypersonic missiles in quick succession and destroyed two US-made HIMARS rocket launchers. Russian forces fired two hypersonic missiles in quick succession and destroyed two US-made HIMARS rocket launchers. NEXTA Live

The Russia Defense Ministry said in a post on Telegram: "Two US-made HIMARS MLRS launchers, from which the shelling of the Kursk region was carried out, were destroyed in the area of the settlement of Miropillia, Sumy region.

"The footage shows explosions, detonation of ammunition, fire, and the departure of a rocket.

"Two missile strikes were carried out on the exposed positions of the American HIMARS MLRS. As a result of the strikes, two HIMARS MLRS launchers, a transport-loading vehicle, and two additional packages (12 rockets) were destroyed."

Ukraine has continued its push and captured hundreds of square miles of Russian territory in the most significant foreign attack on Russian soil since World War II.

Waves of Ukrainian soldiers smashed through Russian defenses to cross the border from Sumy into Kursk on August 6.

Ukraine's Colonel General Oleksandr Syrksyi said on Thursday his forces had captured almost 445 square miles of land in Kursk.

Hypersonic missiles travel at five times the speed of sound or faster, using advanced propulsion systems to maintain velocity while gliding through the atmosphere.

Ukrainian soldiers fire an AS90 as they take part in a military exercise at a military training camp in an undisclosed location. Ukrainian soldiers fire an AS90 as they take part in a military exercise at a military training camp in an undisclosed location. Kin Cheung/AP

Hypersonic missiles are mounted with highly maneuverable hypersonic glide vehicle payloads that can easily evade traditional missile defense systems.

HIMARS, formally known as M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, are lightweight mobile launchers that are mounted on military vehicles and have proven to be formidable weapons in Ukraine against Russian forces.

Since they arrived in June, Kyiv forces have utilized hem to strike ammunition depots, bridges, and other key targets in an effort to hinder Russia's ability to resupply troops in the country.

The HIMARS carry one pod with either six sided Multiple Launch Rocket System rockets or one ATACMS missile.

It comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed Ukraine troops have full control of Sudzha, a town in Russia.

It is the largest town Kyiv's forces have seized so far in the conflict, with a population of around 5,000.

Zelensky said: "General Syrskyi also reported on the completion of the liberation of the town of Sudzha from the Russian military."

Meanwhile, Ukraine announced it was opening up evacuation routes out of Kursk and into Ukraine to help Russians fleeing from the war zone in the embattled border regions.

In a Telegram post on Wednesday evening, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said: "Due to the possible deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the adjacent territories of the Kursk region of the Russian Federation, Ukraine must be ready to receive Russian refugees."

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