Russian invasion of Ukraine

Good NY Times summary of the missile situation:

Is Russia running out of its precision-guided missiles?

“This is the $64,000 question,” according to Max Bergmann, a former American diplomat and expert on European and Russian security at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. There have been several signs that Russia is running low on precision-guided weapons, he said, and “it’s not clear that they have huge reserves.” Among the clues: Russia has hit targets on the ground in Ukraine with missiles and rockets that were designed to destroy aircraft or ships. It has also bought a supply of “kamikaze” drones from Iran.

There has not been any definitive evidence presented publicly that Russia is running out of its best aerial weapons. But if it were, it would at least make it harder for Russian troops to hit cities like the capital, Kyiv, far from the front lines.

American and Western officials have refused to release specific estimates of how many precision-guided missiles Russia was believed to have at the start of the war. But even before this week’s airstrikes, a senior Ukrainian intelligence official, Vadym Skibitsky, said that Russia had depleted about 65 percent of its missile stockpile, and likely had only about 20 percent left of its supply of Iskander ballistic missiles that have been one of Moscow’s weapons of choice.

Mr. Bergmann said Russia will almost certainly manufacture more missiles to replenish its supply, but American sanctions have limited imports of microchips and other parts needed in production. Moscow may also turn to its allies for arms.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/14/world/europe/russia-missiles-ukraine.html