No Indication of Slowing Attack Tempo
There is no evidence to suggest that Russia will reduce the frequency of its missile strikes against Ukraine’s civilian and critical infrastructure. According to Oleksandr Zaruba, chief researcher at the State Research Institute for Testing and Certification of Weapons and Military Equipment, Russian defense factories are producing more than 100 advanced missiles every month.
Missile Production Volumes and Capabilities
Specifically, around 40 to 50 Kh-101 cruise missiles are manufactured monthly. These air-launched weapons are deployed from Tu-95MS strategic bombers and follow complex flight paths. The Iskander-M ballistic missile is produced at a rate of roughly 60 units per month, making it the most widely produced ground-based ballistic system used by the enemy for rapid, devastating strikes. Additionally, approximately 10 Iskander-K cruise missiles are built each month. Known for their precision and low-altitude flight profiles, these missiles are particularly difficult for air defense systems to intercept.
Notably, Ukrainian airspace has not recorded any use of KN-23 or KN-24 ballistic missiles for an extended period. In 2023, North Korea supplied Russia with around 1,000 missiles, but these weapons frequently deviated from their intended course by several kilometers due to poor navigation systems. Many either broke apart or exploded mid-air before reaching the front line or their targets.
One of the most recent documented cases of a North Korean missile strike occurred in April 2025, when a projectile hit a residential apartment building in Kyiv’s Sviatoshyn district, killing 12 people.
This incident underscores the grave risks posed by ongoing missile attacks. Recovered Shahed drones have been found to contain electronics from both China and Russia, suggesting expanding military-technological collaboration between these nations.
The sustained increase in Russia’s advanced missile production and the persistence of its strikes on Ukraine indicate that the regional situation remains highly volatile. This highlights the urgent need to strengthen air defense systems and maintain international support for Ukraine in countering aggression. The growing military-technological partnership between Russia and North Korea could have far-reaching security implications, potentially fueling further military activity and creating new threats for Ukraine and its allies.
The ongoing escalation of missile production in Russia raises serious concerns about air defense capabilities. As highlighted in recent reports, no nation can ensure complete interception of the missiles and drones launched, emphasizing the critical need for enhanced defensive measures in Ukraine as the threat continues to grow.