Russia Establishes Nine Iskander Missile Launch Sites Near Ukrainian Border, Including Crimea

New Deployments Revealed by Satellite Imagery

Satellite imagery and data published on January 31, 2026, by the Strategic Aviation of Russia Telegram channel indicate that the Russian Federation has established at least nine launch sites for its Iskander short-range missile systems near the Ukrainian border, including within occupied Crimea. These deployments involve both Iskander-M ballistic and Iskander-K cruise missile variants.

The identified launch zones are situated in several Russian regions, specifically Kursk, Bryansk, and Rostov, as well as in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories. Locations pinpointed include areas west of Shumakovo village, near Shchigry, Klintsy, and Cheremushki village in the Kursk region. Additional sites are reported near Taganrog, Millerovo, the Chauda training range in Crimea, and the Molykino training ground in Krasnodar Krai. These positions are reportedly intended for conducting strikes deep into Ukrainian territory.

Capabilities of the Iskander Missile System

The Iskander (NATO reporting name: SS-26 Stone) is a family of mobile short-range missile systems. The system is designed for tactical strikes against high-value land targets, such as hostile fire weapons, air and anti-missile defenses, command posts, and troop concentrations.

• The Iskander-M ballistic missile has an operational range of up to 500 kilometers (310 miles). It travels at hypersonic speeds, reaching Mach 6-7, and can achieve an altitude of 50 kilometers. It carries a substantial warhead of 710-800 kilograms and can be equipped with various types, including conventional and nuclear warheads. The Iskander-M is also known for its ability to evade missile defense systems through a maneuverable reentry vehicle (MaRV) and decoys.
• The Iskander-K variant utilizes the R-500 cruise missile, which can have a range of up to 2000 kilometers or more.

The Iskander-M system can be equipped with at least seven different types of ballistic missiles, offering versatility based on operational requirements.

Recent Activity and Context

The deployment comes amidst ongoing military activities. In 2025 alone, Russia reportedly conducted approximately 492 Iskander ballistic missile launches. More recently, on January 28, 2026, an An-124 heavy transport aircraft is believed to have delivered an Iskander OTRK complex, which was subsequently deployed near an airfield.

Ukrainian air defense forces have been actively countering these threats. In January 2026, Ukrainian air defense successfully destroyed 37 Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles and 6 Iskander-K cruise missiles. On January 30, 2026, Russian forces launched one Iskander-M ballistic missile from Voronezh Oblast as part of a larger attack that also involved over 100 drones. Satellite imagery also indicates active construction of new fortifications at some of these missile sites.