Take a Look at the Interception Statistics for Russian Cruise, Not Ballistic, Missiles...

Take a look at the interception statistics for Russian cruise (not ballistic) missiles by Ukrainian air defense over the past three months.

Cruise missiles means Kh-101s from Tu-95/Tu-160 strategic bombers, “Kalibrs” from Black Sea Fleet ships, and “Iskander-Ks” from ground launchers (not to be confused with ballistic “Iskander-Ms”).

June 2: 29/32

June 15: 30/30

July 2: 40/42

July 6: 37/39

July 30: 54/61

August 20: 39/44

September 8: 31/32

In total, 260 out of 280 missiles were intercepted over three months (I am counting only mass launches, excluding local launches of 5-6 missiles), an effectiveness rate of over 90%.

Cruise missiles have effectively been taken out of the game.

Yes, when they are not shot down, they cause colossal damage, destroying houses down to the foundation. But the percentage shot down by Ukrainian air defense makes them, at most, a supporting element in mass launches of ballistic missiles.

Cruise missiles are no longer launched on their own, without being combined with ballistic missiles. Although as recently as autumn 2022, launches of 90-100 cruise missiles in a single salvo became an absolute nightmare for Ukrainian cities and power plants.

It is now officially known that since March, Swedish ACS 890 AEW&C aircraft, announced back in distant 2024, have finally been operating in Ukrainian skies, which significantly improves detection and interception of cruise missiles.

In addition, the number of missiles launched by Russian strategic aviation has decreased: this is a direct consequence of Operation “Spiderweb,” as well as targeted Ukrainian drone raids on airfields where Russian Aerospace Forces strategic bombers are based. This summer, two Tu-95s were critically hit in Engels (1, 2).

Of course, none of this makes things any easier for Ukrainians right now.

As a result of today’s shelling in Kyiv, 3 people were killed and 25 were wounded.

But with the example of cruise missiles, I wanted to illustrate that sooner or later a countermeasure is found for any weapon.

In the latest video, we were talking precisely about ways to counter Russian ballistic missiles and jet-powered UAVs.

⬇️In the photo: Kyiv today during the shelling.