Moscow is ramping up strikes on Ukrainian regions, buoyed by what one expert says is a robust stockpile to sustain the campaign.
Russia’s military has been conducting combined strikes across Ukraine several times a month. Aviation expert Anatoly Khrapchinsky, a former officer in Ukraine’s Air Force, assessed Russia’s real missile inventory and production pace.
In an interview with Radio NV, he said Russia currently has enough long-range weapons to launch mass strikes on Ukraine once or twice a week for several consecutive months. According to him, Russia’s missile arsenal is growing rather than shrinking, posing a serious strategic threat.
Khrapchinsky estimates Russia may have 300 to 350 Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles in storage, 150 to 200 Kalibr missiles, about 450 to 500 Iskander-M ballistic missiles, and up to 300 Iskander-K cruise missiles.
He also cites hundreds of tactical Kh-59 and Kh-69 missiles, several dozen heavy Kh-22 and Kh-32 missiles, and 40 to 60 Kinzhal missiles. Separately, he notes thousands of S-300/400 missiles that Russia periodically uses against ground targets.
The expert emphasizes that Moscow has significantly expanded production of attack drones, which have become the most numerous component in combined strikes.
Even amid heavy barrages, Russia is producing at least as many missiles and drones as it expends, he says. Intelligence assessments put arsenal replenishment at 120% to 150% of consumption overall, and even higher for certain types: Iskanders up to 160%, Kh-101 around 120%, and Kh-59/69 above 200%.
Another concern for Ukraine is the supply of North Korean KN-23 and KN-24 missiles. Khrapchinsky warns that Russia has already received and used some of these munitions, independent of its own defense production.
So far the scale appears limited: Russia has received several dozen such missiles, but deliveries could continue. In return, North Korea gets to test its weapons in combat and receive detailed reports on their performance in Ukraine, helping Pyongyang rapidly refine their capabilities.
