Russia can fire 77 missiles at Ukraine in single salvo — and plans to scale up, drone commander says

Russia possesses the capability to launch a synchronized barrage of up to 77 ballistic and cruise missiles in a single strike on Ukraine, according to Unmanned Systems Forces Commander Robert Madyar Brovdi. This revelation emerged in an interview with the Associated Press on August 10, as tensions escalate between the two nations.

The interview shed light on Russia's escalating aerial campaign against Ukrainian cities, which is exacerbated by a severe shortage of air defense munitions. Brovdi disclosed that Russia aims to boost this number to 200, admitting that even half of this increase would pose a significant threat. The simultaneous salvo would involve various types of missiles launched from diverse platforms, such as ships and aircraft.

Brovdi clarified that the initial reports of 77 ballistic missiles were inaccurate, as the barrage would encompass both ballistic and cruise missiles. The primary vulnerability for Ukraine's air defense lies in its scarcity of Patriot interceptor missiles, with the only reliable defense against Russian ballistic weapons. Additionally, Russia has intensified its use of Shahed-type drones, with their numbers reportedly increasing by 2.5 times in recent weeks, further overwhelming Ukraine's strained air defenses.

Furthermore, Brovdi emphasized the importance of targeting Russia's missile production facilities with long-range strikes to disrupt the adversary's capabilities. This report emerged on the same day that Ukraine's military intelligence agency revealed that Russia's monthly production of key missiles, including the Kalibr and Kh-101 cruise missiles, has surpassed targets by 10-20%.