Russia launches over 11,000 missiles at Ukraine in two years

Defense Express reports.

According to calculations based on open-source data, from September 28, 2022, to September 1, 2024, Russia launched 11,466 missiles at Ukraine. The median number of launches per day was 17, with an average of 23.2 daily launches.

Russia employed 36 different combinations of missile types in these strikes, varying trajectories to deplete Ukraine's air defense. This highlights the need for continued Western support in strengthening Ukraine’s air defense and providing more capabilities to strike deep into Russian territory, according to the CSIS think tank.

The report notes that initial missile count estimates were provided by Ukrainian researcher Petro Ivaniuk, and later confirmed using data from the Ukrainian Air Force's reports.

During the analyzed period, there were 17 days when Russia launched more than 82 missiles in a single day, reflecting key military operations or responses to critical events on the battlefield, indicating peaks in conflict intensity.

Regarding the performance of Ukraine's air defense, the daily interception rate averaged 83.5%, with a median of 88%, though over the full two-year period, the overall rate was 79.8%.

This effectiveness was achieved not only due to Western air defense systems but also through Ukraine's own initiatives, such as the "acoustic network" for detecting drones like Shaheds.

In terms of Russia's missile strike strategies, the researchers identified 52 general models of missile launches, considering both individual and combined missile attacks with various types.