--- title: "Russia uses training missiles as ballistic weapons against Ukraine" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/russia-uses-training-missiles-as-ballistic-weapons-against-ukraine" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/russia-uses-training-missiles-as-ballistic-weapons-against-ukraine" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/russia-uses-training-missiles-as-ballistic-weapons-against-ukraine.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/russia-uses-training-missiles-as-ballistic-weapons-against-ukraine" category: "Conflict & Security" area: "Ukraine" published: "2026-09-18T16:25:19.915Z" source_reported: "2026-09-18T15:58:39.199Z" updated: "2026-09-18T16:25:19.915Z" trust_score: 60 critic_score: 65 hype_score: 45 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-18T16:15:21.855451+00:00" --- # Russia uses training missiles as ballistic weapons against Ukraine *Modified air defence missiles account for over half of Russia's ballistic launches in July and August.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 60 of 100, higher is better. Reporting is corroborated by 22 sources, with claims attributed to Reuters and Ukrainian officials. - Craft 65 of 100, higher is better. The story is well-supported by multiple sources, with clear attribution and a focus on factual reporting. - Hype 45 of 100, lower is better. Headlines and some digests use strong language, but the core reporting remains factual. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Russia is increasingly using modified RM48U training missiles as ballistic weapons against Ukraine. - These RM48U missiles made up over half of Russia's ballistic and hypersonic launches in July and early August. - The repurposed missiles are launched from S-400 air defence systems and are less accurate than Iskanders. - Ukraine relies on limited Patriot systems to intercept ballistic missiles, and Russia's use of RM48Us may aim to deplete these stocks. Russia has begun using modified RM48U training missiles as ballistic weapons against Ukraine. These missiles, adapted from Russia's 48N6 surface-to-air missiles and launched from S-400 air defence systems, accounted for more than half of the ballistic and hypersonic weapons Russia launched in July and early August. Originally intended as targets for air defence exercises, these modified missiles now carry warheads and travel at high speeds. Their use allows Russia to conserve more advanced missiles, such as Iskanders, for potential future campaigns. The RM48U missiles are less powerful and accurate than Russia's Iskander ballistic missiles. However, their lower precision can increase the danger to civilians when fired near populated areas. One such missile was linked by Reuters to a strike on a railway station in Brovary near Kyiv that killed eight civilians in August. Ukrainian authorities confirmed the large-scale use of these missiles for the first time this summer. ## Disagreement on missile numbers Reports offer differing figures for the total number of ballistic and hypersonic missiles launched by Russia in July and early August. Reuters, citing Ukrainian law enforcement officials, military intelligence, and defense analysts, reported that 228 such missiles were launched, with RM48Us making up over half. However, Gazeta.ua, citing Ukrainian data, stated that RM48Us delivered 87 of 158 recorded ballistic and hypersonic strikes in July. News-pravda.com also noted that in July, out of 158 ballistic and hypersonic missiles, a portion were RM48U, but did not specify the total number launched. ## What the coverage left out None of the left, centre, or right-rated reports mention the specific figure of 480 RM48U missiles Russia aims to produce annually by 2026, a detail reported by the Kyiv Post and attributed to Ukraine's military intelligence. ## Who covered it Shares of the 10 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 10% (1) - Centre: 40% (4) - Right: 50% (5) 12 of 22 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-18T16:15:21.855451+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 1 time; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-18T16:30:21.616Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The Kyiv Post's full report led with Russia's conversion of training missiles into frequently used ballistic weapons. It highlighted that the RM48U accounted for over half of Russia's ballistic and hypersonic launches in July and early August, citing Reuters and Ukrainian officials. The report detailed that these weapons are modified 48N6 surface-to-air missiles launched from S-400 systems. It noted their original purpose as targets during air-defence exercises and their current use with warheads. The Kyiv Post also reported that Russia is seeking to more than double annual production of RM48U missiles. The report quoted Sidharth Kaushal, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, who said Russia could use RM48U launches to drain Ukraine’s stocks of Patriot system interceptors and conserve Iskander missiles for a possible winter escalation. The article linked an RM48U missile to a strike on a railway station in Brovary that killed eight civilians. ### Centre - Centre-rated reports led with Russia adapting training missiles for its ballistic attacks on Ukraine. Devdiscourse and Digi 24 both highlighted that RM48Us made up more than half of the ballistic and hypersonic missiles fired at Ukraine in July and early August, citing Ukrainian data seen by Reuters. These reports noted that the RM48U is less accurate than the Iskander and can cause civilian casualties, linking it to the Brovary railway station strike that killed eight people. The centre-rated outlets also emphasised that Russia's use of these missiles allows it to conserve more advanced weapons like Iskanders for winter campaigns, while potentially depleting Ukraine's limited Patriot interceptor stocks. Devdiscourse mentioned that Russia's defence ministry did not respond to questions about its missile use, and Moscow denies intentionally harming civilians. The Economic Times and WTVB, which published digests, also focused on Russia leveraging repurposed training missiles to ramp up its aerial assault strategy and exhaust Ukraine's Patriot interceptors. ### Right - Right-rated reports focused on Russia's alleged increasing use of converted RM48U missiles. News-pravda.com stated that foreign media reported Russia is allegedly using converted RM48U missiles, originally intended for S-300/S-400 firing ranges, to strike ground targets. Korrespondent.net reported that Russian Federation forces are using training missiles to deplete Ukrainian air defence stocks prior to massive attacks. Modern Diplomacy's digest mentioned Russia increasingly relying on large-scale missile and drone attacks to pressure Ukraine's air defences, noting the consequences at a suburban railway platform near Kyiv where eight people were killed. Times of India and The Straits Times digests also highlighted Russia adapting a training missile to lead its ballistic onslaught, with The Straits Times referencing the Brovary railway platform incident. BizToc's digest also carried a similar headline. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - veryLow: 1 - mixed: 2 - high: 5 - unknown: 12 - veryHigh: 2 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Kyiv Post](https://kyivpost.com/post/84849) — Russia Turns Training Missiles Into Deadly Weapons in Ukraine - [rmf24.pl](https://rmf24.pl/fakty/swiat/news-rosja-coraz-czesciej-uzywa-rakiet-rm-48u-to-przerobione-poci,nIdn,1018297) — Russia Is Increasingly Using RM-48U Missiles. These Are Modified Training Missiles. - [news-pravda.com](https://news-pravda.com/russia/2026/09/18/2601920.html) — The foreign side is reporting that Russia is allegedly increasingly using converted RM-48U missiles, which were originally intended for S-300/S-400 firing ranges, to strike ground targets in Ukraine - [1news.com.ua](https://1news.com.ua/svit/rosiya-zberigaye-zapasy-balistychnyh-raket-iskander-do-zymovogo-periodu-povidomlyayut-zmi.html) — Russia to Keep Stocks of Iskander Ballistic Missiles Until Winter Period, Media Report - [LB.ua](https://en.lb.ua/news/2026/09/18/42174_russia_begins_mass_use_modified.html) — Russia Begins Mass Use of Modified RM48U Missiles Against Ukraine Instead of - [Unknown](https://war.obozrevatel.com/rossiya-aktivno-ispolzuet-dlya-atak-na-ukrainu-uchebnyie-raketyi-rm48u-chto-o-nih-izvestno.htm) — Russia Is Actively Using RM48U Training Missiles to Attack Ukraine: What Is Known About Them - [Gazeta.ua](https://gazeta.ua/articles/world-life/_raketimisheni-zamist-iskanderiv-yak-rosiya-naroschuye-balistichni-udari-po-ukrayini/1258945) — Missiles Targeted Instead of “Iskanders”: How Russia Is Increasing Ballistic Strikes on Ukraine - [T&T](https://tekniikkatalous.fi/uutiset/a/f1c5d762-7fe8-435d-8e92-774b1fe07ec1) — Russia's Cunning Move: Now Firing Hugely Inaccurate RM48U Missiles - Flying 300 Meters Past the Target - [Korrespondent.net](https://korrespondent.net/world/4912872-rossyia-ekonomyt-ballystyku-do-zymy-smy) — Russia Saves Ballistics Until Winter. - [Unknown](https://glavcom.ua/world/observe/rosija-znajshla-zaminu-iskanderam-dlja-masovanikh-udariv-po-ukrajini-reuters-1143779.html) — Russia Has Found a Replacement for Iskanders for Massive Strikes in Ukraine - [ТСН.ua](https://tsn.ua/ukrayina/rf-masovo-zapuskaye-po-ukrayini-navchalni-rakety-rm48u-deshevshi-i-mensh-tochni-za-iskandery-3171083.html) — Russia Massively Launches RM48U Training Missiles in Ukraine, Cheaper and Less Accurate than “Iskanders” - [Devdiscourse](https://devdiscourse.com/article/international/3978843-insight-russia-adapts-a-training-missile-to-lead-its-ballistic-onslaught-of-ukraine) — INSIGHT-Russia adapts a training missile to lead its ballistic onslaught of Ukraine - [Rzeczpospolita](https://radar.rp.pl/przemysl-obronny/art45159511-rosja-powiekszyla-arsenal-znalazla-sposob-na-masowy-ostrzal-ukrainy) — Russia Has Expanded Its Arsenal. She Found a Way to Mass Shelling Ukraine - [liga.net](https://news.liga.net/ua/war/news/reuters-rf-masovo-zapuskaie-po-ukraini-navchalni-rakety-rm48u-deshevshi-i-mensh-tochni-za-iskandery) — Reuters: Russia Massively Launches RM48U Training Missiles in Ukraine, Cheaper and Less Accurate than Iskanders - [Digi 24](https://digi24.ro/stiri/externe/rusia-a-adaptat-o-racheta-de-instructie-pentru-a-fi-folosita-in-atacurile-asupra-ucrainei-ce-este-rm48u-3953627) — Russia Has Adapted an Instruction Missile to Be Used in Attacks on Ukraine. What Is RM48U - [Modern Diplomacy](https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2026/09/18/how-russia-is-reshaping-its-missile-campaign-against-ukraine) — How Russia is reshaping its missile campaign against Ukraine - [Times of India](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/russia-adapts-a-training-missile-to-lead-its-ballistic-onslaught-of-ukraine/articleshow/134327623.cms) — Russia adapts a training missile to lead its ballistic onslaught of Ukraine - [The Economic Times](https://m.economictimes.com/news/defence/russia-adapts-a-training-missile-to-lead-its-ballistic-onslaught-of-ukraine/articleshow/134327623.cms) — Russia adapts a training missile to lead its ballistic onslaught of Ukraine - [Capital.gr](https://capital.gr/diethni/4017607/reuters-i-rosia-metatrepei-ekpaideutiko-puraulo-se-aixmi-tis-ballistikis-epithesis-stin-oukrania) — Reuters: Russia Turns Training Missile Into Spearhead of Ballistic Attack on Ukraine - [BizToc](https://biztoc.com/x/a71a9868308582af) — Russia adapts a training missile to lead its ballistic onslaught of Ukraine - [The Straits Times](https://straitstimes.com/world/europe/russia-adapts-a-training-missile-to-lead-its-ballistic-onslaught-of-ukraine) — Russia adapts a training missile to lead its ballistic onslaught of Ukraine - [WTVB](https://wtvbam.com/2026/09/18/russia-adapts-a-training-missile-to-lead-its-ballistic-onslaught-of-ukraine) — Russia adapts a training missile to lead its ballistic onslaught of Ukraine ## Questions **What are RM48U missiles?** RM48U missiles are modified variants of Russia's 48N6 surface-to-air missiles, originally intended as targets during air defence exercises. They have been adapted to carry warheads and are launched from S-400 air defence systems to strike ground targets in Ukraine. **How many RM48U missiles has Russia launched?** In July and early August, RM48U missiles accounted for over half of the 228 ballistic and hypersonic weapons Russia launched at Ukraine, according to Reuters and Ukrainian officials. Some reports provide different total launch numbers for the period. **Why is Russia using RM48U missiles?** Reports suggest Russia is using RM48U missiles to conserve more advanced weapons like Iskanders for potential future campaigns. Their use may also aim to deplete Ukraine's limited stocks of Patriot interceptors, which are crucial for defending against ballistic missiles. **What is the impact of RM48U missiles on civilians?** While less accurate than Iskander missiles, RM48U missiles can increase the danger to civilians when fired near populated areas. One RM48U missile was linked to a strike on a railway station in Brovary near Kyiv that killed eight civilians. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/conflict/russia-uses-training-missiles-as-ballistic-weapons-against-ukraine. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Russia uses training missiles as ballistic weapons against Ukraine", https://mediabias.news/conflict/russia-uses-training-missiles-as-ballistic-weapons-against-ukraine