US Think Tank Warns Russian Quasi-Cruise Missiles Threaten Ukraine Air Defenses

Russia is increasingly deploying low-cost, highly maneuverable quasi-cruise missiles that pose an emerging threat to Ukrainian air defenses, according to a recent assessment by the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The think tank highlighted that these adapted munitions challenge existing interception networks by combining low flight profiles with erratic trajectories, making tracking and targeting significantly harder for frontline defense units.\n\nAccording to the ISW report, Moscow is leveraging these modified weapons to bypass radar systems and deplete Ukraine's limited stockpile of Western-supplied surface-to-air interceptors. Analysts noted that the cost-effective nature of these quasi-cruise systems enables Russian forces to launch them in higher volumes alongside one-way attack drones, overwhelming local air defense batteries without expending more expensive high-precision ballistic or cruise missiles.\n\nThe tactical shift comes as Ukraine grapples with persistent shortages of air defense ammunition and seeks additional Patriot, NASAMS, and IRIS-T systems from Western allies. Russian forces have methodically targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and military logistics hubs throughout the conflict, continually adjusting their strike packages to circumvent Ukrainian electronic warfare systems and ground-based interception cordons.\n\nMilitary analysts caution that without expedited deliveries of modern air defense interceptors and expanded radar coverage, Ukraine will face growing difficulties in shielding both military assets and critical civilian infrastructure. As Russia ramps up domestic defense production and incorporates iterative design improvements into its low-cost missile arsenals, the pressure on Kyiv's defensive shield is set to intensify over the coming months.