Russia gathers strength for potential winter missile strikes
The Russian Federation Army continuously gathers resources for air strikes, reports the Ukrainian agency Unian. Igor Romanenko, a former deputy chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, warns that the aggressor might now be preparing weapons for a mass strike. It is understood what the Russians are waiting for.
The equipment currently in Russia's arsenal is attracting the interest of many experts. Therefore, it is unsurprising that situations where the Russian Federation temporarily halts its attacks on Ukraine are causing a stir.
Moscow has paused attacks. They may be preparing for fall and winter
Recently, Ukrainian military officer Igor Romanenko noted on the Ukrainian channel TSN that Moscow has not conducted mass shelling against the defenders' country for a while. "Recently, we have not observed the mass use of missile weapons. Russians are gathering weapons. They may be preparing for the cooler fall days to more effectively impact the moral and psychological state of Ukrainian citizens," Romanenko said.
The military officer points out that the strike slowdown may result from a specific tactic of the Russian Federation and the challenges currently facing the local arms industry. The former deputy chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine explains that, due to the conflict in Iran and reports of damage in this region to the Iranian facilities producing ballistic missiles and drones, Russia must rely on its reserves and factories.
Concerning the weapons that the Russian Federation uses for strikes on Ukraine, one of the most attention-grabbing is the Kh-101 missiles, which are also among the newest. Additionally, the Kinzhal Kh-47M2 missiles are valuable for Moscow. Although these designs differ significantly from one another, they pose a real threat to the defenders' country.
Valuable Russian missiles
The Kinzhal Kh-47M2 is an advanced missile characterized by impressive technical parameters. It is approximately 7 metres long, with a diameter of 1 metre, and weighs about 4,500 kilograms. Although the maximum speed of the missile is estimated at 10 Mach, more realistic assessments indicate the ability to reach speeds of about 8 Mach, which corresponds to approximately 9,800 km/h.
The most significant advantage of the Kinzhal is its ability to perform complex manoeuvres during flight. This capability makes intercepting the missile significantly more challenging, making it one of the most mobile hypersonic weapon systems. The option of evading threats at every stage of flight enhances its combat effectiveness, making it an extremely difficult target to neutralize.
On the other hand, the Kh-101 is a missile in which the latest version features two warheads, including one cluster warhead. This configuration allows for a much wider area for strikes compared to a missile with a standard warhead. It is also noteworthy that the Otblesk-U guidance module is present. This module compares the image recorded during flight with that stored in the missile's memory. Thanks to this technology, the accuracy of hitting is within only a few metres.
The Kh-101 boasts an impressive range reaching up to 5,000 kilometres. However, it should be noted that the latest upgrades might have limited this range. Nevertheless, it remains large enough for the missiles to be launched from secure positions within Russian territory. The maximum speed of the Kh-101 missile is approximately 1,000 km/h.
