KYIV — Russia has been increasingly using a missile originally designed for air-defense training in its attacks against Ukraine, according to a Reuters investigation, as Moscow expands its ballistic-missile campaign while seeking to conserve more capable weapons.
The missile, known as the RM48U, was developed as a target missile but has reportedly been adapted for combat use. Ukrainian investigators and military intelligence told Reuters that the weapon is less accurate and less powerful than Russia’s Iskander ballistic missile, but can still cause serious damage when used in large numbers.
The development comes as Russia and Ukraine continue an intensified long-range air campaign, with missiles and drones repeatedly targeting areas far from the front line.
Training Missile Becomes Part of Russia’s Strike Arsenal
The RM48U — derived from the Russian term for “target missile” — is launched from Russia’s S-400 air-defense system and follows a ballistic trajectory.
According to Ukrainian data reviewed by Reuters, RM48Us accounted for more than half of 228 ballistic and hypersonic missiles launched in July and the first eight days of August. Reuters said it could not independently verify the Ukrainian findings.
Ukrainian prosecutors told Reuters that the missile can deviate from its intended target by roughly 300 meters on average, making it considerably less precise than purpose-built strike missiles.
The use of the weapon in populated areas has therefore raised concerns about the consequences of deploying a less accurate missile in dense civilian environments.
Why Russia May Be Using More RM48Us
Military analysts cited by Reuters say one possible reason for the shift is missile conservation.
Using large numbers of RM48Us could allow Russia to maintain pressure on Ukrainian targets while preserving some of its more capable ballistic missiles for other operations.
Reuters cited RUSI analyst Sidharth Kaushal, who said the approach could allow Russia to conserve weapons such as Iskanders, as well as other missiles, for a later period.
The Ukrainian data cited by Reuters showed that as RM48U use increased in July, the number of reported Iskander launches fell to 38, compared with more than 100 the previous month.
That pattern does not by itself establish Russia’s intentions, but it provides evidence of a changing mix of weapons in the campaign.
Railway Station Strike Raises Questions About Accuracy
One of the attacks examined by Ukrainian investigators occurred in the Brovary district near Kyiv on August 5.
Eight civilians were killed in the strike near a railway platform, according to Ukrainian officials. Investigators concluded that an RM48U was involved after examining the crater, missile fragments and damage around the site.
Reuters noted that it could not independently verify the Ukrainian forensic conclusion.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said at the time that it had struck a logistics center in Brovary that it said was being used to store drone components. Moscow has repeatedly denied deliberately targeting civilians.
The competing claims underscore why the precise circumstances and responsibility for individual strikes can require independent investigation.
Russia’s Ballistic Missile Campaign Has Expanded
The reported RM48U deployment comes amid a broader increase in Russia’s use of ballistic and hypersonic missiles.
Ukrainian data cited by Reuters recorded 158 ballistic and hypersonic missile strikes in July, the highest monthly total since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022. RM48Us accounted for 87 of those strikes, according to the Ukrainian figures.
The pace remained high in August, with 70 such strikes recorded during the first eight days of the month, including 36 involving RM48Us, according to the same data.
Ukraine subsequently stopped routinely publishing detailed figures on Russian missiles launched and intercepted, saying it did not want to provide information that could be used by Russia to assess Ukrainian air-defense performance.
Ukraine Faces Pressure on Air Defenses
The shift also comes as Ukraine faces continuing pressure on its air-defense capabilities.
Reuters reported that Ukraine has been struggling to replenish its stocks of U.S.-made Patriot interceptors, which are among the systems capable of engaging some Russian ballistic missiles. The availability of additional interceptors has been complicated by competing demands elsewhere.
This has made the volume of Russia’s ballistic attacks particularly significant for Ukraine’s defensive planning.
Recent attacks have also combined different types of missiles and drones rather than relying on a single weapon system.
On September 16–17, Ukrainian authorities reported a large Russian overnight attack involving ballistic and cruise missiles and 157 drones. Ukrainian officials said 131 aerial targets were neutralized, while strikes were recorded at multiple locations.
Kyiv and Other Cities Continue to Face Air Strikes
The latest missile campaign has continued beyond the period examined in Reuters’ investigation.
On September 17, Reuters reported that Russia launched missile and drone attacks against Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, with Ukrainian officials reporting more than 20 people injured. Poland also scrambled military aircraft after a separate Russian attack in western Ukraine near the Polish border.
The Polish military said its airspace was not violated.
The episode demonstrated how Russia’s continuing attacks on Ukraine can also create security concerns for neighboring NATO countries, particularly when strikes occur close to their borders.
A Growing Air War Alongside the Ground Conflict
The development of the RM48U comes as both Russia and Ukraine have increasingly relied on long-range attacks.
Russia has continued missile and drone strikes against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, while Ukraine has conducted its own long-range drone campaign against targets inside Russia.
Reuters reported that the United Nations recorded at least 437 civilian deaths in Ukraine in July, the country’s highest monthly civilian death toll since the early months of the full-scale invasion, with missile and drone attacks contributing significantly.
The figures illustrate the human consequences of the expanding air campaign without establishing that every casualty resulted from a particular missile type.
What the RM48U Shift Could Mean
The reported use of RM48Us suggests that Russia has found a way to expand the number of ballistic weapons available for attacks without relying exclusively on its more sophisticated strike missiles.
For Ukraine, the challenge is particularly significant because defending against ballistic threats requires specialized air-defense systems and rapid response.
At the same time, the RM48U’s reported lower accuracy raises questions about the risks to civilian areas when large numbers are used.
The findings do not establish that Russia has exhausted its main missile stocks or that RM48Us have replaced Iskanders. Rather, they point to a broader and more flexible mix of weapons being used during an intensifying air campaign.
As the war enters another critical phase, the battlefield is increasingly being shaped not only by ground operations but also by the ability of both sides to sustain—and defend against—long-range strikes.
