According to Ukrainian intelligence, Russian forces have split the launchers into five groups stationed in Russia’s Bryansk and Rostov oblasts.
The intelligence agency also said Russia has significantly increased its use of RM-48U guided missiles against ground targets in 2026. From January through June, an average of 15 missiles were used each month. During the first 20 days of July, that figure reached 46.
Ukrainian intelligence officials said Russian forces are actively using RM-48U missiles because they are significantly cheaper than the 9M723 ballistic missiles used by Iskander systems. Russia has also accumulated a stockpile of about 400 RM-48U missiles for the S-400 system.
At the same time, Russia’s military-industrial companies can produce new launchers and modernize existing ones, the intelligence agency said. The main manufacturers of S-400 systems are the Almaz-Antey Aerospace Defense Concern and MKB Fakel.
“The manufacturers of the RM-48U are the Avangard Moscow Machine-Building Plant and the AviaTek machine-building company in Vyatka,” Ukrainian intelligence officials said.
Defense Express reported previously that Ukrainian
government agencies had, for the first time, confirmed that Russian forces are
using S-400 launchers specially modified to operate as launchers for
operational-tactical missiles in strikes on Ukraine with RM-48U missiles. The
number of such launchers is believed to be limited.