Intelligence shares number of Iskander launchers Russia keeps near Ukrainian border

This was announced by Vadym Skibitsky, Deputy Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, at a meeting of the Yalta European Strategy (YES), Interfax-Ukraine reports.

According to him, it was this system that Russia used to launch strikes on 8 September, both with ballistic missiles and cruise missiles.

"Thus, there is a methodical destruction of civilian objects of our state, first of all," Interfax-Ukraine quoted Skibitsky as saying.

Skibitsky also stressed that Russia is actively using aviation against Ukrainian troops, although it is afraid of Ukraine's powerful air defence system, which has proven its effectiveness.

"It has proved its effectiveness by the percentage of cruise missiles and other ammunition that are aimed at civilians and military targets, which are destroyed by our air defence system. We are grateful to our partners for the latest weapons provided to our country, which are effective and allow us to defend our country," the DIU representative said.

Russia has concentrated over 420,000 soldiers in the temporarily occupied territories - the Ukrainian intelligence

In addition, the DIU added that Russia has concentrated more than 420,000 military personnel in the occupied territories of Ukraine - this does not include the Russian Guard, other law enforcement agencies and structures of the Russian Federation that support the Russian-appointed authorities.

According to the Major General of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, the Russian occupying contingent has a large number of tanks, armored vehicles, artillery systems, multiple launch rocket systems and missile systems.

Skibitsky emphasized that in more than a year and a half of war in Ukraine, Moscow has not achieved its strategic goals - neither the full occupation of Ukraine nor the full occupation of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

The intelligence representative underscored that the aggressor employs weapons directly from the production line, meaning that what is manufactured at Russian defense industry facilities is promptly deployed to the troops. This is particularly evident in the case of missile weaponry, as evidenced by Russia's missile strikes on Ukraine in August, which utilized missiles manufactured in the third quarter of 2023.

In addition, the Russian army is seeking to increase military production, in particular of so-called high-tech weapons.

• On the night of 8 September, Russian terrorists launched 20 unmanned aerial vehicles at Odesa region. Ukrainian air defence destroyed 16 of them.