RUSSIA REPORTEDLY USES NEW “ISKANDER-1000” BALLISTIC MISSILE AGAINST KYIV FOR THE FIRST TIME
Russia has reportedly struck Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, with a 9M723-2 ballistic missile, known as the “Iskander-1000,” for the first time, according to Ukraine’s Military Intelligence Directorate (HUR).
The HUR said the missile was used during one of Russia’s combined large-scale attacks on Kyiv this summer, marking what Ukrainian intelligence described as the first known use of the weapon against the Ukrainian capital.
According to the HUR, the 9M723-2 Iskander-1000 reportedly features a hybrid guidance system designed to improve its ability to reach targets even in contested electronic environments. During the early and midcourse stages of its flight, the missile is said to rely on navigation systems that do not depend on GPS.
In its terminal phase, Ukrainian military intelligence says the missile switches to an advanced electronic seeker capable of scanning the target area and using visual and thermal imagery to identify and guide itself toward its intended target.
The reported deployment of the missile highlights Russia’s continued use and possible development of increasingly sophisticated precision-guided ballistic weapons in its campaign against Ukraine. The claims regarding the missile’s capabilities have not been independently verified.