Ukraine’s missile cemetery.

Ukraine's missile cemetery.

Ukraine’s Missile Graveyard: An Unforgettable Tale of War and Technology

In the spring of 2022, Ukraine established a secret study center near Kyiv to collect and analyze the myriad missiles that had fallen from the sky during the ongoing war with Russia. This peculiar site, dubbed the “missile graveyard,” resembles a dark catalogue of Russia’s war effort. Amongst the twisted wreckage, officers meticulously sift through missile debris, trying to unravel their origins, capabilities, and the key details required to devise countermeasures and stay one step ahead of their adversaries.

Walking amidst rows of missiles, which almost resemble headstones, the officers encounter various types of weaponry. Cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, glide bombs, free-fall bombs; they all lie there, remnants of destructive power. Wires, circuit boards, gyroscopes, lenses, casing, and cladding – all the intricate components that make up these killing machines – further populate the landscape. The grass grows around them, flourishing in the areas where leaked fuel hasn’t claimed its life. One cannot help but marvel at this macabre display, a testament to the technological prowess of both sides.

Colonel Mykola Danilyuk, a key figure in the study center, emphasizes the paramount importance of understanding the enemy’s weaponry before devising effective strategies. “If you are going to battle something,” he states, “you need to first understand what you are dealing with.” Each projectile’s impact site presents a unique challenge, as the officers must ascertain the type of missile responsible for the devastation. Serial numbers or other markings on the remnants assist them in identifying and categorizing the missiles.

The officers’ task becomes more complicated as the missiles become more powerful and destructive. Ideally, when an air defense system successfully hits an incoming missile, causing it to fall intact, the officers can delve deeper into its origins, including its production and service history. This information allows them to evaluate upgrades and advancements. Sasha, one of the officers working at the site, remarks, “Understanding the dynamics of production is key to staying ahead of the game.”

Amidst the chaos and destruction, there is a glimmer of hope. The Russians are gradually depleting their missile stockpiles, with the most recent arrivals dating back to the second quarter of 2023. However, this reduction in stockpiles also indicates an escalation in production, suggesting that Russia is prioritizing its most effective weapon, the air-launched Kh-101 cruise missile. These Kh-101 missiles possess the ability to fly low, evading detection, and change directions multiple times. Colonel Danilyuk notes, “One group might attack Kyiv from the north, and a second group will make figure-of-eight turns before striking an airbase in Odessa.” The increasing use of Kh-101s and drones in combination poses a new challenge for Ukraine’s defense forces.

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The study of these missiles offers invaluable insights into Russia’s ongoing modernization efforts during the heat of battle. For example, the earlier versions of the Kh-101 missiles, recovered in 2022, featured a single optical sensor for homing purposes. However, the most recent missiles boast three sensors, suggesting advancements in their guidance systems. These findings have forced Ukraine to reevaluate its tactics in countering the missiles. In the early stages of the war, the study of the optical contrast seekers on Kalibr sea-launched cruise missiles enabled Ukrainians to develop cone-shaped decoys, successfully fooling the Kalibr missiles. These decoys are now strategically deployed at critical targets such as bridges. Another significant breakthrough came with the identification and understanding of Russian “thermal traps” – clouds of projectiles released from missiles designed to overwhelm automated defense systems. Ukrainian forces can now distinguish real threats from decoys, enhancing their ability to defend against these attacks.

Interestingly, a missile’s post-mortem can reveal not only its technical details but also its origin and those involved in its production. Bureaucracy within the production plant has resulted in many components bearing the names of the workers who manufactured them. Leveraging this fact, Ukraine has publicly identified and named these workers, holding them accountable for their role in civilian deaths. Sasha explains, “We put it to the workers that they had options: to leave or sabotage production.” Remarkably, this approach led to a temporary halt in production, highlighting the power of public shaming.

Despite the awe-inspiring build quality of the missiles, Colonel Danilyuk finds a disappointing lack of progress in their electrical circuitry. He remarks, “The relay box might say it was produced in 2022, but it’s the same size as you saw in the 1970s.” However, the Russians have not shied away from incorporating imported microcomponents in their missile systems. Most notably, the optical homing systems of Kh-101s rely on Altera Flex logic boards, predominantly sourced from the United States. These dual-use components circumvent sanctions, making it challenging to control their flow into Russia. Colonel Danilyuk humorously points out that one can order them on Aliexpress and export them in a couple of suitcases from neighboring countries like Kazakhstan.

Over 16 months of intensive study, the experts at the missile graveyard have developed an advanced understanding of the military industry they are up against. While the build quality of the Russian missiles remains impressive, the Ukrainian air defense systems have shown increasing success in countering them, even with more cost-effective options such as handheld surface-to-air missiles. This raises questions about the effectiveness of Russian cruise missiles in modern warfare. Sasha concludes, “In non-nuclear mode, they haven’t been precise or destructive enough to make a strategic difference.”

The missile graveyard near Kyiv serves as a captivating testament to the intertwining strands of technology, warfare, and human determination. It showcases the ongoing battle between two nations, not just on the physical battlefield but also in the realm of innovation and countermeasures. As Ukraine unravels the mysteries of fallen missiles, they gain the knowledge required to protect themselves against future attacks. In this eerie landscape of fallen giants, the officers stand as sentinels of resilience, fighting to understand the weapons that threaten their nation’s very existence.