Ukraine’s military intelligence agency has reported that Russia can produce more than 200 ballistic and cruise missiles per month, including up to 110 ballistic missiles, and maintains substantial stockpiles while continuing to ramp up production despite international sanctions, as Moscow intensifies strikes on critical infrastructure.
The Ukrainian military intelligence agency (HUR) said on Nov. 4 that Russia has the capacity to produce over 200 ballistic and cruise missiles each month. The report comes as Russia ramps up missile and drone attacks across Ukraine, particularly targeting energy facilities in a renewed energy blitz, while Ukraine faces a deepening shortage of Patriot interceptor missiles to counter ballistic threats.
“Russia, the aggressor state, maintains significant stockpiles of long-range missile weapons and continues to ramp up production despite international sanctions,” HUR said in a Telegram post. The agency said Russia was believed to have up to 700 ballistic missiles and several thousand cruise missiles of various types in its stockpile as of October, without revealing how it obtained the data.
Of those, about 115 are believed to be 9M723 Iskander-M ballistic missiles. HUR added that Russia’s stockpile of 3M22 Zircon missiles likely exceeds 120. Though designed to target warships, the Zircon has increasingly been used in large-scale missile attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.
Earlier on Nov. 3, Russia launched its biggest mass strike on Ukraine’s energy facilities this year, targeting substations, transmission systems and power plants across nine regions. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia launched 17 ballistic missiles overnight. Only three were shot down, according to the Air Force.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Russia’s sustained missile production threatens Ukraine’s energy grid as winter approaches, risking widespread blackouts and humanitarian strain.
- The reported stockpile of ballistic missiles, particularly Zircon and Iskander types, puts additional pressure on Ukraine’s already depleted air-defence systems.
- A shortage of Patriot interceptors limits Ukraine’s ability to defend against ballistic missiles, potentially forcing difficult choices about which targets to protect.
Background
Russia has maintained missile production despite rounds of Western sanctions. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly warned that Moscow’s industrial capacity allows it to replenish stockpiles faster than Ukraine can receive new air-defence systems. The current escalation follows months of relative calm on the energy front before Russia resumed heavy strikes in late 2025.
What to Watch
- Further large-scale missile and drone barrages targeting energy infrastructure in the coming weeks.
- Any new pledges or deliveries of Patriot or other advanced interceptor systems to Ukraine from allies.
- Indicators of whether Russia can sustain its current production rate or faces bottlenecks from sanctions.
Checked
11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
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- SupportedRussia has capacity to produce more than 200 ballistic and cruise missiles per month, according to Ukraine’s military intelligence agency.Kyiv Independent: “Russia has the capacity to produce over 200 ballistic and cruise missiles per month, the Ukrainian military intelligence agency (HUR) said on Nov. 4.”
- SupportedHUR estimates that up to 110 of the missiles it can produce monthly are ballistic missiles.Kyiv Independent: “Of the estimated monthly capacity, up to 110 are ballistic missiles, according to HUR.”
- SupportedRussia maintains significant stockpiles and continues to increase production despite international sanctions.Kyiv Independent: “"Russia, the aggressor state, maintains significant stockpiles of long-range missile weapons and continues to ramp up production despite international sanctions," HUR said in its Telegram post.”
- SupportedHUR said Russia is believed to have up to 700 ballistic missiles and several thousand cruise missiles of various types in its stockpile as of October.Kyiv Independent: “Russia is believed to have up to 700 ballistic missiles and several thousand cruise missiles of various types in its stockpile as of October, HUR said, without revealing how it obtained the data.”
- SupportedAbout 115 of the ballistic missiles are believed to be 9M723 Iskander-M missiles.Kyiv Independent: “About 115 of these weapons are believed to be 9M723 Iskander-M ballistic missiles, the agency added.”
- SupportedHUR said Russia’s stockpile of 3M22 Zircon missiles likely exceeds 120.Kyiv Independent: “HUR said that Russia's stockpile of the 3M22 Zircon missiles likely exceeds 120.”
- SupportedThe Zircon was designed to target warships and has increasingly been used in large-scale missile attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.Kyiv Independent: “Although designed to target and destroy warships, the Zircon has increasingly been used in Russia's large-scale missile attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.”
- SupportedRussia’s missile and drone attacks are intensifying, often targeting critical infrastructure in a renewed energy blitz.Kyiv Independent: “HUR's statement comes as Russia intensifies its missile and drone attacks against Ukraine, often targeting the country's critical infrastructure in a renewed energy blitz.”
- SupportedOn Nov. 3, Russia launched its biggest mass attack on Ukraine’s energy facilities that year, targeting facilities across nine regions.Kyiv Independent: “Earlier on Nov. 3, Russia unleashed its biggest mass attack on Ukraine's energy facilities this year, targeting substations, transmission systems, and power plants across nine regions.”
- SupportedPresident Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia launched 17 ballistic missiles overnight.Kyiv Independent: “President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia had launched 17 ballistic missiles against Ukraine overnight.”
- SupportedThe Air Force said only three of the missiles were shot down.Kyiv Independent: “Only three were shot down, according to the Air Force.”