Russia’s domestic Iskander-M and Pyongyang-supplied KN-23 ballistic missile stockpile has dropped from 580 to 300 since May, Ukrainian intelligence told Liga. The report does not include other widely used types of Russian ballistic missiles, such as the S-300 and S-400 surface-to-air systems repurposed for ground attacks, or the Kinzhal, which is essentially an air-launched variant of the Iskander-M.

Ukrainian intel: Russia loses nearly half its advanced ballistic arsenal

As of early July 2025, Russia possesses around 300 ballistic missiles of the Iskander-M type and their North Korean equivalents, the KN-23, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) told Liga in response to a request. The stockpile currently includes over 250 Russian-made Iskander-M missiles and about 50 KN-23s supplied by North Korea.

Ukrainian intelligence previously stated that in mid-May, Russia had approximately 580 ballistic missiles of this class. The current total confirms a nearly twofold drop in supply over the course of just six weeks.

Dozens of launchers remain deployed near Ukrainian border

According to HUR, over 60 tactical missile system launchers capable of firing these ballistic missiles are presently deployed close to Ukraine’s borders, indicating the continued threat of Iskander-M strikes.

In May, HUR had reported that Russia had stepped up its missile production. Compared to 2024, production volumes had increased from 40 to 60 missiles per month. 

Almost 90 ballistic missiles launched on Ukraine in two months

According to the Air Force of Ukraine data, during May and June, Russia used 88 ballistic missiles — a combination of Iskander-M and KN-23 — in attacks on Ukrainian towns and cities. Ukrainian air defense forces successfully intercepted and destroyed 23 of them.

In early June, Ukrainian forces eliminated three launchers in Bryansk oblast, from which Russian troops had been firing missiles at Ukraine. 

Ukraine struck a critical Russian military-industrial site overnight on July 5 that produces components for high-precision weapons used by Moscow to attack Ukraine, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported.

The site in question is JSC VNIIR-Progress, a Russian state institute that specializes in developing electronic warfare (EW) systems, including the Kometa antenna arrays, used to jam satellite, radio, and radar signals.

The institute is located in Cheboksary, Chuvash Republic, about 1,200 kilometers (745 miles) away from the Ukrainian border.

The Kometa antenna is used in Shahed-type drones, Iskander-K cruise missiles, and guided aerial bomb modules — all high-precision weapons used by Russia to strike civilian and military targets across Ukraine.

The General Staff confirmed that Ukrainian weapons reached the target area but said final damage assessments were still underway.

The VNIIR-Progress institute has been sanctioned by both the United States and the European Union for its role in supporting Russia's war effort.

The Iskander-K is a precision-guided cruise missile with a range of up to 500 kilometers (311 miles), frequently used by Russia to target civilian areas. Shahed drones have become a central part of Moscow's airstrike tactics since late 2022 due to their low cost and high payload.

Located on the Volga River, Cheboksary is the capital of the Chuvash Republic and lies deep inside Russian territory. Russian independent media outlet Astra and local Telegram channels earlier reported explosions in the city overnight.

Russia's Defense Ministry claimed to have shot down two drones over the region.

This marks the second known Ukrainian drone strike on VNIIR-Progress. On June 9, explosions and fires were also reported at the facility following another drone attack.