Russian Iskander Missile Strikes Destroy Dozens of Ukraine’s Mobile Drone Launchers Near Capital

Russian forces used Iskander tactical ballistic missile systems to strike a concentration of heavy trucks modified to transport and launch long-range unmanned aerial vehicles near Boryspil in the Kiev region, according to the Russian Ministry of Defence. The Ministry claimed that the strike destroyed up to 40 trucks equipped with launchers, potentially disrupting Ukraine's ability to conduct long-range drone operations from the area. The targeting of drone launch vehicles has increasingly been prioritised, as drone strikes take a growing toll on Russia’s economy by targeting critical infrastructure.  

Mobile launch vehicles provide Ukraine with a means of dispersing long-range drone operations, providing greater survivability than relying exclusively on fixed launch infrastructure. Heavy trucks can transport drones, launch equipment and associated support systems, allowing launch positions to be changed between operations and potentially complicating Russian efforts to locate and destroy them. The Russian Defence Ministry said the latest strike formed part of continued attacks against Ukrainian drone launch sites, ships and seaports used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. 

Each Iskander-M brigade is comprised of 51 vehicles, including 12 transporter erector launchers and 12 reload vehicles which between them can deploy 48 missiles. Russia’s defence sector has succeeded in maintaining production of missiles for the system at a surged wartime rate, with output having quintupled by mid-2023. This has allowed for a much higher rate of use. The arsenal has continued to be supplemented by procurements of KN-23, KN-24 and KN-30 ballistic missiles from North Korea, which have complementary and in many respects superior capabilities.