by TASS [5-26-2025 published].

According to Rostec, can only observe the flight of these missiles and realize the inevitable destruction of its sites.

MOSCOW, May 26. /TASS/. The Ukrainian army has no defense capabilities to counter Russian Iskander missiles, Russia’s state tech corporation Rostec told TASS on Monday.

"The adversary cannot repel Iskander strikes. The ballistic missile flies along a complicated and unpredictable trajectory at an enormous speed. The overload during maneuvering considerably exceeds the overload that most NATO-made anti-aircraft missiles can endure. Therefore, the Ukrainian army has no capabilities to shoot down Iskanders. The adversary can only observe the flight of these missiles and realize the inevitable destruction of its sites," it said.

The 9K720 Iskander-M (NATO reporting name: SS-26 Stone) is designed to destroy multiple launch rocket systems, missile and air defense systems, aircraft and helicopters at airfields, command posts and infrastructure. A brigade set includes over 50 items of hardware, including launchers, transporter-loader, command and staff and maintenance vehicles. It fires ballistic and cruise missiles to a range of 500 km.

Iskanders Don't Miss: How Russia is Turning Ukraine's NATO-Made Air Defense Shield Into Swiss Cheese

by Sputnik [5-26-2025 published].

Russian missiles keep overwhelming NATO-sourced air defenses in Ukraine - and the latest strikes prove it. The enemy can do nothing but watch Iskander missiles fly, fully aware that their targets are doomed but unable to respond, says Russian state defense giant Rostec. Here's why.

Iskanders fly along unpredictable trajectories at tremendous speeds (up to Mach 7).

Their G-load during maneuver significantly exceeds what most NATO anti-aircraft missiles can withstand, Rostec says.

Besides their 400-700 kg payload, just the shockwave generated during the missiles’ approach, or munition fragments, can be enough to take enemy defenses out of action. Plus they’re incredibly accurate (5-7M CEP).

In other words, NATO has nothing like them.

Swiss Cheese Air Defenses

Ukraine’s air defenses have been decimated over three years of fighting, covering only Kiev plus 2-3 strategic objects elsewhere, says Russian air defense forces historian Yuri Knutov. “The remaining objects are practically defenseless.”

That’s because Russia is using the Fabian strategy – firing missiles and drones to grind down enemy defenses, logistics and defense production in depth, and aiming to achieve victory not through decisive battles, but exhaustion leading to collapse.

Response to Provocations

The growing intensity of Russian missile strikes in spite of new peace talks in Istanbul makes sense, Knutov says, given Kiev’s attempts to disrupt negotiations through its own recent drone attacks on Russian military and civilian targets.

Ukraine’s strikes were intended to evoke a tit-for-tat response, but Russia didn’t bite, sticking to strategic targets, like:

• Ukraine’s Avangard drone plant
• radio intel sites
• the Main Intelligence Directorate
• drone assembly sites, weapons storage

“We will not reduce the intensity of strikes because the enemy (not just the Kiev regime but the countries supporting it) must understand that the task of strategically weakening Russia cannot be solved by increasing arms deliveries,” Knutov summed up.

Russian missiles ‘fool’ US-made Patriots – Ukrainian military

by RT [5-26-2025 published].

Iskanders use decoys and maneuvering to confound air defenses, Kiev’s Air Force spokesman has admitted.

US-designed Patriot air defense systems are struggling to keep pace with Russia’s missile technology, particularly the Iskander missiles, Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Igor Ignat admitted on Monday.

Kiev has long praised the MIM-104 Patriot as a vital part of its arsenal following the deployment of the first battery in April 2023. But the American system is showing critical limitations in the face of Russia’s weaponry, Ignat told Le Monde in an interview.

“The Iskander missiles perform evasive maneuvers in the final phase, thwarting the Patriot’s trajectory calculations,” he said. “In addition, the Iskander can drop decoys capable of fooling Patriot missiles.”

While Ukrainian officials previously lauded the Patriot system for its ability to intercept Russian hypersonic Kinzhal missiles, Moscow has questioned such claims. Russian officials also argue that Kiev often overstates the number of missiles it downs compared to the number actually launched.

As of May, Ukraine is reported to have six active Patriot systems, primarily donated by the US and Germany, with additional components provided by the Netherlands and Romania.

Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has called the Patriot system the only viable defense against Russian strikes, and has stated an aim to acquire a total of 25 units. He recently proposed that Kiev’s European backers fund the purchase of an additional ten systems for Ukraine at a cost of $15 billion. However, the administration of US President Donald Trump has dismissed the proposal as unrealistic.

Ukraine also faces dwindling supplies of interceptor missiles for its Western-donated platforms, even as Russian forces adapt their drone tactics to circumvent existing countermeasures.

Ukrainian forces have escalated their own drone offensives against Russia, moving from overnight attacks to continuous launches throughout the day. The shift comes amid increased pressure from Washington for continued direct peace negotiations. On Sunday, Trump expressed frustration with the lack of progress, blaming both Moscow and Kiev.

Related

‘Iskander-M’ keeps obliterating NATO and Kiev regime assets all across Ukraine [5-22-2025]