Russia fires large Soviet-era cruise missiles at Kyiv

Russia used Tu-22M3 Backfire-C bombers to launch a salvo of heavy Kh-22/Kh-32 cruise missiles toward the Kyiv region on January 24, marking the first recorded use of these weapons against targets near the Ukrainian capital.

Ukrainian air defense forces reported that Russia fired 12 Kh-22 or Kh-32 missiles toward a target on the outskirts of Kyiv. Nine of the missiles were intercepted using Western-supplied air defense systems. The remaining missiles did not reach their intended targets, according to Ukrainian officials.

The strike involved Soviet-era, delta-wing cruise missiles known to NATO as the AS-4 Kitchen. The Kh-22 missile, and its modernized variant the Kh-32, measure nearly 38 feet in length and are among the heaviest air-launched cruise missiles still in service. Both weapons are carried exclusively by the Tu-22M3 long-range bomber, a platform operated by Russia’s Aerospace Forces.

Ukrainian military officials said the bombers had to fly close to Ukraine’s borders to launch the missiles at maximum range, underlining the operational limits of the system when used against inland targets. Until now, Kh-22 missiles had not been launched at targets in the Kyiv region, making the attack a notable escalation in the geography of their use.

The interception of nine missiles was made possible by modern Western air defense systems, including the Patriot system, which has previously been identified as one of the few platforms capable of engaging Kh-22-class targets. Due to their high speed and flight profile, Kh-22 missiles are difficult to intercept using legacy air defense systems.

The Kh-22 was originally developed in the Soviet Union as an anti-ship weapon designed to strike U.S. aircraft carriers. When repurposed for land attack, the missile relies on guidance systems that are not optimized for precision strikes on ground targets. Ukrainian officials and defense analysts have repeatedly noted that the missile’s circular error probability is high, increasing the risk to civilian areas when used against land targets.

During the war, Russia has used Tu-22M3 bombers primarily to launch Kh-22 missiles against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. These attacks have often resulted in large-scale destruction due to the missile’s heavy warhead, even when targets were missed. Ukrainian authorities have previously stated that Kh-22 strikes have caused civilian casualties in several regions, including Dnipro and Odesa, due to the missile’s limited accuracy.

The possible use of the Kh-32 variant, an upgraded version of the Kh-22, has not been independently confirmed. The Kh-32 is externally similar to the older missile but features improved electronics and a modified flight profile, including higher altitude and speed. Russia has previously claimed that the Kh-32 has enhanced resistance to air defense systems, though Ukraine has reported successful interceptions of such missiles.

The strike comes as Russia continues to rely on long-range aviation to compensate for limits in its tactical missile inventory. The Tu-22M3, a legacy bomber from the late Soviet period, remains one of the few platforms capable of delivering very heavy cruise missiles at extended ranges, though its use requires exposure to air defense coverage near Ukraine’s borders.