Cluster Iskander missiles rocking peaceful cities: Tactics and threat to civilians

Takeaways

• Why is Russia deliberately using cluster munitions against peaceful cities?

• What is common in Russia’s tactics when using cluster munitions?

• What type of cluster munitions is Russia using against Ukrainians?

• How can Ukraine defend itself against such strikes?

• Why is it crucial to destroy Russian Iskanders before they reach launch positions?

Strikes on Kryvyi Rih, Sumy, and Kharkiv

On April 4, Russian forces struck a residential area in Kryvyi Rih using an Iskander-M ballistic missile with a cluster warhead. The explosion occurred mid-air over a densely populated neighborhood, directly hitting a children’s playground.

The attack killed 20 people, including nine children. Despite numerous photos and videos from the scene, showing the destroyed playground, the Kremlin once again cynically claimed that it "does not target civilians." This false narrative was quickly debunked by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Less than two weeks later, Russia repeated the exact same tactic. On April 13, Palm Sunday, two ballistic missiles with cluster munitions were launched at central Sumy. The strike killed 35 people and injured 120 — again, children were among the dead and wounded.

Today, on Good Friday, the terrorist state hit Kharkiv. The Russian forces launched three Iskander missiles, one of which had a cluster warhead and exploded near a residential building. A civilian enterprise was also struck. Nearly 100 people were injured in total.

Russia’s tactics when using cluster Iskanders

In a comment to RBC-Ukraine, aviation expert Valerii Romanenko explained the typical Russian strike pattern involving cluster-armed Iskander missiles. According to him, the first missile usually carries a penetrating, high-explosive, or fragmentation warhead.

When hitting a city, meaning buildings, the penetrating warhead pierces through several floors and explodes, fully or partially destroying the structure, depending on its size, he explained.

Shortly afterward, with minimal delay, just as emergency services begin responding, Russia follows up with a second missile carrying a cluster warhead.

"This one targets unprotected people. It scatters over a wide area and uses specially designed fragmentation elements to wound and kill," Romanenko said.

However, he noted that this tactic is not new. Russian forces first used cluster warheads in such a manner in Zaporizhzhia back in October–November 2022.

"Since then, it has become a standard tactic. Lately, it’s being used more frequently," he added.

Photo: Russian Iskander operational-tactical missile system (Getty Images)

Types of cluster warheads and what the enemy uses against Ukraine

According to the expert, one of the latest versions of the Iskander ballistic missile is the 9M723. This missile can carry up to four types of cluster warheads. The primary one used by Russia against Ukrainians is a cluster warhead with fragmentation elements designed for non-contact detonation.

"What does this mean? The missile approaches the target, opens up at an altitude of 1.5 to 1 km (around 900 meters), and scatters submunitions. These can be of various types, possibly even ball-shaped, about the size of an orange. Inside them is explosive material, and around the perimeter, there are striking elements," explains Romanenko.

Submunitions may fall to the ground and explode upon impact. However, there is also another variant where the warhead with submunitions, which has its own targeting system, releases 10–20 elements.

"There’s also a warhead with an explosive-detonating effect, but I don’t think the Russians use that against buildings at the first stage," says Romanenko.

The expert also mentions other variants of cluster warheads that are designed for remote landmining with various types of mines. For example, a missile explodes and scatters a large number of antipersonnel mines. Thus, submunitions either explode at a certain height or upon impact.

"The simple ones, which I believe are used in Russian attacks against Ukraine, detonate upon impact, while those that don’t explode remain as antipersonnel mines, and as soon as someone touches them, they will explode," the expert notes.

He reminds that due to this, there is a range of international bans on the use of cluster weapons because they are extremely dangerous for civilians.

How Ukraine can defend against Russia’s cluster missile strikes

Ukrainian forces can intercept ballistic missiles using Patriot systems, but covering large areas from ballistic threats is challenging due to the limited number of these systems. Recently, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte announced that Ukraine will receive additional Patriot systems.

"With these Patriots, we can cover a few more cities. Or, with high probability, but not 100%, we could cover a large city. For example, when Russia launched six ballistic missiles at Kyiv (on April 6), we only shot down one. To reliably protect a city, we would need two batteries. But it’s unrealistic to cover all of Ukraine with Patriots — hundreds would be required," explains Romanenko.

The expert adds that the most effective defense against further attacks is to target Russian missile depots, factories, and other production sites.

"Russian Iskanders should be destroyed before they reach combat positions, just as we struck the 112th brigade that launched the attack on Sumy. We must also target Russian factories or depots. But to do this, we need our own cruise and ballistic missiles, as our drones can’t hit protected targets," concludes Romanenko.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russia may launch strikes before and after Easter, based on intelligence received. "We know what Russia is preparing for. There is information from our intelligence agencies. New attacks from Russia are possible now, both before and after Easter. We will continue to defend our country," said Zelenskyy.

For more on the threat, read Brace for worst-case scenarios: Will Russia dare to strike on Easter?

Sources: reports from the State Emergency Service, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, local authorities, and an exclusive comment from aviation expert Valerii Romanenko.