Skibitskyi: Russia upgrading missiles and drones for intensified combined strikes on Ukraine

Deputy Chief of the Defense Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine Vadym Skibitskyi reported this in an interview with Ukrinform.

“We are witnessing the Russian Federation modernizing and upgrading its missile systems and drones, based on the aftermath of their attacks on our country, particularly targeting civilian infrastructure and key enterprises. First, the strikes will be combined, involving various types of UAVs, including so-called decoys, and cruise missiles of different launch types: naval Kalibrs, air-launched Kh-101, Kh-32, and ground-launched Iskanders. The enemy can use both ballistic and cruise missiles. What we observe is, first, a change in strike tactics; second, the use of modernized weapons,” Skibitskyi said.

He noted that the tactics for using Shahed drones have changed drastically since the beginning of the war. If earlier they flew directly at the target, now they can circle around Kyiv for several hours and change altitude.

In addition, missiles are also being modernized. For example, the Kh-101 cruise missile now has new features — electronic warfare devices and a dual warhead. The enemy is also upgrading navigation and guidance systems to overcome Ukraine’s electronic warfare systems.

“That is why it is wrong to assume the enemy will stop at any given level. For example, the Kometa system was originally 8- to 12-channel; now it is 16-channel, and in the future, 32-channel, enabling it to overcome electronic warfare systems. This process for the enemy will be continuous – improvement, increasing the effectiveness of strikes through accuracy, and so on. Our task is to counter this effectively,” Skibitskyi emphasized.

As Ukrinform reported, during the night of September 7 (starting at 17:00 on September 6), the enemy launched a combined attack on Ukraine using strike UAVs and ground-launched missiles. During the attack, the Air Force’s radar units detected and tracked a total of 818 aerial threats. As of 8:30 on September 7, air defense forces had shot down or suppressed 751 aerial targets: 747 enemy Shahed-type drones and imitation drones of various types, as well as 4 Iskander-K cruise missiles.