Russia has launched more than 13,300 missiles and more than 142,300 strike drones at Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion, according to Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraine’s commander-in-chief. The figures were released on Tuesday, 13 January 2026, after Syrskyi discussed Ukraine’s air-defence needs with the commander of the US Army in Europe and Africa.

The totals fold nearly four years of strikes into a single measure of scale. They cover a campaign that has combined cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and mass drone attacks, used both against military targets and against infrastructure that sustains daily life, including the power grid. Ukrainian briefings since the start of winter have referred to repeated “large-scale” raids involving mixed weapons.

Kyiv’s emphasis is not only on volume but on the changing mix. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly warned that ballistic missiles are among the most difficult threats to counter, largely because of their speed and shorter warning time. The point has been reinforced by the pattern of recent raids, which Ukraine says have frequently arrived in layered waves intended to complicate interception and overwhelm local defences.

The past week provided a separate marker of the evolving threat. On 9 January, Russia said it fired an “Oreshnik” missile at Ukraine during a wider strike. It was the second acknowledged use of the weapon in the war, with Moscow framing it as retaliation for an alleged attempted Ukrainian drone attack on a presidential residence, a claim Kyiv denied.

The Oreshnik episode was closely watched in European capitals because the missile was used against a target in western Ukraine near Nato territory. Allies viewed the launch as a signal aimed at the West as much as at Ukraine.

Foreign supply remains an additional factor. North Korean KN-23-series ballistic missiles have been used against Ukraine, according to Ukrainian and US statements and international reporting, which has described continuing transfers of North Korean munitions to Russia. Moscow and Pyongyang have expanded defence ties, with Western officials raising concerns that co-operation includes technical assistance as well as deliveries.

Reporting on Iranian missile involvement has been more contested publicly, but new claims have emerged about pre-war contracting. Bloomberg reported on 12 January that Iran is assessed to have sold about $2.7 billion worth of ballistic and surface-to-air missiles to Russia under contracts starting in October 2021, citing a Western security official speaking anonymously. Earlier Reuters reporting in 2024 cited sources saying Iran had delivered ballistic missiles to Russia, while Iranian officials denied transferring such weapons.

For Ukraine, the question remains whether partners can match the tempo of attacks with a steady supply of interceptors and systems. On 1 January, Ukraine’s defence ministry said two additional Patriot air-defence systems had been deployed, attributing the outcome to agreements reached with Germany. Patriots are central to Ukraine’s efforts against higher-end threats, but the effect depends on interceptor availability and on how many sites can be covered at once.

There are also signs of new focus on cheaper, short-range tools to counter drones. Footage and reporting this month indicated that Ukraine has begun operating a US-made Tempest system designed to engage drones, helicopters and low-flying aircraft. The transfer was not publicly announced at the time, but reports described it as a mobile platform intended for short-range air defence.

Alongside defensive support, allies are moving on long-range strike options for Ukraine. On 11 January, the British government announced “Project Nightfall”, a programme to develop ground-launched ballistic missiles for Ukraine. The stated requirement is a missile able to carry a 200kg warhead over a range of more than 500km, with an accelerated competition intended to produce test missiles within 12 months.

European industrial decisions are also being shaped by the war. Reuters reported in September 2025 that Denmark would host production of fuel for long-range missiles by the Ukrainian company Fire Point near Skrydstrup air base, presenting the facility as a way to support Ukrainian output outside the range of Russian strikes.