Some analysts believe that as nearly eight months of war dragged on and sanctions hit Russia's economy, Russia may be reducing inventory of long-range precision weapons, forcing Russia to resort to less precise missiles.
It is not clear whether Russia has enough weapons to continue its strike against Ukraine, with the same intensity as the subsequent strike. The Kerch Bridge explosion on October 8th. I went to Moscow to annex the Crimean Peninsula
see what is known and unknown about the Russian arsenal of Russia:
What does Russia say?
Russian officials said the military had enough long-range missile reserves and factories were producing more missiles, denying Western claims that their supply was decreasing.
The Russian military has not disclosed how many missiles have been launched, how many missiles are left, and there is no data to independently evaluate the status of the Russian arsenal.
Vladimir Putin President recently chaired a meeting to discuss plans to improve weapons production, but he avoided details in his introductory speech on television.
What is Russia relying on recently?
When the Russian military launches missile attacks across Ukraine Starting Monday, it used the entire long-range precision weapon: the Kh-55 and Kh-101 cruise missiles launched by the strategic bomber , the sea-fired Kalipur cruise missile and the ground-fired Iskander missile.
Russian troops have also used the S-300 surface-to-air defense missile system to strike ground targets many times, which some observers regard as a signal of Russia's shortage of weapons. Ian Williams, a researcher at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Russia repurposed the air defense system and anti-ship missile , indicating that Russia lacked demand for more advanced missiles aimed at hitting ground targets.
Williams said the strike of the Russian S-300 air defense system "does not really hit the 'charisma' of hardened military targets, and they also have no accuracy in the land attack role, and they can't even hit the building you want to hit." "It's really just launching them into ether and seeing where they land."
However, the use of these missiles can be interpreted as a large number of old subtype missiles that were replaced by the more advanced air defense weapon , and the military's desire to retain more expensive and advanced long-range missiles for priority targets.
Although the numbers are difficult to obtain, how Russia uses its weapons is convincing. In a recent attack on Mykolaiv, a surface-to-air missile was used to hit targets on the ground. Douglas Barrie, senior researcher at the London-based International Strategy Institute Military Aerospace, said this was "a certain sign that missile inventory is declining."
What is Washington talking about?
Although the Biden administration believes there is evidence that Russia has exhausted its stock of its most effective weapons, U.S. officials say there is no indication that Moscow is ready or willing to concession in recent shelling of civilian areas of Kiev and other Ukrainian cities.
It is not clear what the United States thinks Russia may have left. But two officials said U.S. government analysts noticed with interest that Russia used the cruise missile after the Kerch Bridge explosion, rather than cheaper short-range artillery or rockets.
Officials said this option could indicate Russia lacks cheaper, reliable medium-range weapons, and that Russia has faced difficulties in replenishing inventory due to sanctions and supply chain disruptions.
According to officials, the relative calm Kiev enjoyed before the Kerchbridge incident may be a sign of Russia's attempt to protect its limited resources. Officials asked to be anonymous to discuss internal assessments of Russia's military strength.
What is behind the target selection?
launches a large number of inaccurate missiles that may be to disrupt the air defense system, while Russia uses its best missiles for high-value targets and critical infrastructure. But Williams hinted that Moscow could also take strategic action because they knew their shelling would strike civilian targets, hoping to exacerbate Ukraine’s panic and push Kiev to accept a ceasefire agreement in favor of Russia.
"It's becoming increasingly obvious that, as they say, cruelty is the point," he said.
