Russia Deploys Repurposed Training Missiles to Intensify Ukraine Attacks

Russia has significantly ramped up its aerial assault on Ukraine by mass deploying repurposed training missiles originally designed for air defense target practice. These converted weapons, known as RM48Us, made up more than half of the 228 ballistic and hypersonic missiles launched at Ukraine during July and early August, according to Ukrainian military data.

The strategy allows Russia to sustain daily attacks while preserving its more precise and expensive missiles, such as the Iskander, for later use. Military analysts note that as RM48U deployments surged over the summer, the number of Iskander missiles fired dropped sharply during the same period.

Deadly Impact on Civilians

One notable strike involved a railway platform near Kyiv, where an RM48U attack killed eight people waiting for a train. Ukrainian investigators say the missile deviates from its intended target by roughly 300 meters on average, making it considerably less accurate than dedicated strike weapons, while still causing significant damage through fragmenting warheads.

Ukraine’s Air Defenses Under Pressure

The timing of this escalation coincides with Ukraine nearly exhausting its supply of American-made Patriot interceptors, the primary system capable of shooting down Russian ballistic missiles. Replacement timelines remain unclear, as available Patriot production is being prioritized for other allied regions.

Casualties Reach New Highs

July marked the deadliest month for Ukrainian civilians since the war’s early stages, with over 400 deaths linked largely to missile and drone strikes. Russian civilian casualties have also risen sharply compared to the previous year, according to independent monitoring groups.

Russia is reportedly planning to more than double its production of these training missile conversions this year, further compounding the strain on Ukraine’s already limited air-defense capacity heading into winter.