Russia struggles to produce S-400 missiles due to Western sanctions

The head of the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security, Andriy Kovalenko, reported.

He noted that the annual production of missiles for the S-400 systems does not exceed 50–200 units due to sanctions imposed on Russia.

Meanwhile, because of losses of S-300 and S-400 systems at the front, the occupiers are forced to redeploy air defense systems from the Far East to the European part of the country.

“Russians do have missile reserves — in 2024 there were over 10,000 missiles only for the S-400. But due to sanctions, production has become more complicated, and the air defense is constantly being depleted because of attacks by unknown drones as well as fighting at the front,” Kovalenko noted.

Overall missile production for all types of air defense systems in Russia is estimated at up to 2,000 units per year.

“This does not mean the enemy is not trying to find ways to bypass sanctions. But it shows that Russia’s air defense system can be drained. Putin can no longer guarantee the security he promised Russians and now mainly focuses on protecting Moscow,” he added.

• On the night before Monday, May 26, Russia complained about drone attacks. Among the targets were the Shahed strike drone manufacturing plant in the city of Yelabuga, Republic of Tatarstan, and a chemical plant in the Ivanovo region of Russia.