Russia Modifies Ballistic Missiles to Evade Ukraine's Air Defenses in Terminal Phase
Russia has modified its ballistic missiles to perform steep dives and rapid maneuvers in the terminal phase, successfully evading Ukraine's Patriot and other interceptor systems, according to a report from October 2025. Ukrainian officials describe the modification as a 'game-changer' for Russia. This weekend, Russia launched one of its largest ballistic missile attacks since the invasion began, firing over 40 missiles and 120 drones, primarily targeting Kyiv. Despite Ukraine's high overall intercept rate of nearly 90% in June 2026, the new missile tactics are causing more hits. The attack killed 16 civilians and wounded 77 across Ukraine. A global shortage of interceptors and the fact that Ukraine's home-built defenses remain years away compound the challenge.
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