Daily Mail is a "shouty" source (that was told to me by a Brit). But it's easy enough to verify the claim as it is in multiple sources:

reuters.com - Kremlin says three scientists face very serious accusations treason case

Reminds me of the movie One, Two, Three. (Kommisar) "In Soviet rocket program we have two buttons." (zealot) "TWO BUTTONS!" (Kommisar) "Yes, one to blow up missile, one to blow up scientist."

I think it's not unreasonable that these missiles could be intercepted. You can't really catch up to a hypersonic missile after it has passed you. But if it's coming toward you, it's simple math to figure out how fast the target is going, the speed of your missile, and plot an intercept point. That's what the onboard electronics of an anti-missile missile does. You just have less time to do those calcs before the hypersonic missile is gone.