Russia Using Missiles With Components Made In Europe And The U.S. Weeks Before Strikes

Russia is deploying missiles that contain components manufactured in Europe and the United States just two to three weeks prior to attacks on Ukraine, according to Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat, who reported on October 14 via UATV English. In televised remarks, Ihnat emphasized the ongoing flow of foreign-made parts into Russia's weapons industry, noting that debris from Russian missiles frequently contains recently manufactured components, including parts from European or American companies.

Ihnat stated that Russia utilized 39 missiles of various types in the latest assault on Ukraine, including Iskander-M, North Korean KN-23, S-400, Zircon, and Oniks systems. The attack targeted Kyiv and the surrounding region, with Ukrainian energy infrastructure among the targets. According to Ihnat, only Patriot air defense systems are currently capable of intercepting the ballistic missiles employed in the attack, with four missiles intercepted thus far.

Without providing additional details on the interceptions, Ihnat explained that Russia employs a mix of missile types to conduct large-scale attacks from multiple angles, highlighting the variation in cost and flight characteristics of the weapons. He added that debris from Russian Kalibr and Kh-101 cruise missiles has also been found to contain recently manufactured components.

The European Union has consistently called for disrupting Russian supply chains and funding channels that enable Moscow's defense industry to acquire foreign components for weapons used against Ukraine.