As of July 10, 2026, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Defense Forces of Ukraine have destroyed 4,887 cruise missiles of the russian army. During the latest russian missile attack on July 7, 37 cruise missiles were destroyed in a single day.
At first glance, this is just statistics. In reality, behind every downed missile are saved lives, preserved homes, hospitals, schools, critical infrastructure facilities, and even entire Ukrainian cities that the enemy failed to wipe off the face of the earth. Behind every figure in the General Staff’s report lies the daily, grueling, and highly professional work of Ukrainian soldiers.
Ivan Arefiev writes about this for the Prompolitinform portal.
Regarding the determination of the absolute daily record for downing russian cruise missiles, there are different approaches — in terms of the percentage of cruise missiles destroyed relative to the number launched by russia on Ukrainian territory, and in terms of absolute numbers.
According to the first approach, the absolute daily record for downing russian cruise missiles by Ukrainian air defense was recorded on March 14, 2026. On that day, the Defense Forces of Ukraine intercepted 100% of the cruise missiles (of the Kh-101 and “Kalibr” types) that russia had launched at Ukrainian territory. These figures were cited during the telethon on March 14, 2026, by Yuriy Ihnat, Head of the Communications Department of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Modern anti-aircraft missile systems and aviation, including Patriot systems and F-16 fighters, were involved in repelling the massive attack.
According to the second approach, the absolute daily record for downing russian cruise missiles was set on August 26, 2024 — when the Defense Forces of Ukraine destroyed 102 units, including Kh-101/555 and “Kalibr” missiles.
In 2022, the daily record for downing cruise missiles was set on December 29 — 54 units of this weaponry.
In 2023, the maximum number — 87 cruise missiles — was shot down, again on December 29.
In 2024, the absolute daily record for downing russian cruise missiles was set — 102 units of this weaponry on August 26.
In 2025, due to the russian army’s use of combined massive missile-and-drone air attacks, the number of cruise missiles destroyed per day dropped to 3 units.
In 2026 (as of July 10), the highest number of enemy cruise missiles — 48 units — was shot down on July 2.
On an annual basis, the largest number of russian cruise missiles was destroyed by the Defense Forces of Ukraine, primarily by the Air Defense units of the Armed Forces, in 2024 — 1,398 missiles.
Statistics of russian cruise missiles destroyed in 2022–2026
The statistics of destroyed russian cruise missiles on an annual basis are of particular interest, as they clearly illustrate how the war in Ukraine’s skies has changed and continues to change.
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In 2022, Ukraine countered missile terror primarily with existing Soviet-era air defense systems. Interception rates often ranged from 40% to 70%, depending on the missile type and the availability of modern air defense systems. The greatest challenges were posed by the Kh-22 and the first massive strikes using Kh-101 and “Kalibr” missiles.
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In 2023, modern Western systems — Patriot, SAMP/T, IRIS-T SLM, and additional NASAMS — entered combat duty with the Air Defense units of the Armed Forces, significantly strengthening the protection of Ukrainian skies. During many russian missile attacks, it was possible to shoot down over 90% of cruise missiles.
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In 2024, russia began combining massive missile strikes with hundreds of strike drones, trying to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defense system.
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In 2025–2026, the war has entered a phase of attrition, where the struggle is not only for air superiority but also for the production capabilities of the defense industry.
Moreover, the destroyed russian cruise missiles also have a financial dimension.
Estimated cost of individual types:
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Kh-101 — up to $13 million USD;
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“Kalibr” — $6–7 million USD;
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Kh-555 — $2–4 million USD;
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Kh-59/Kh-69 — $300,000–500,000 USD.
Considering the different types of missiles used, the cost of the downed cruise missiles alone is currently estimated by experts at at least $20–30 billion USD.
It should be noted that behind the figure of 4,887 destroyed russian cruise missiles are not only modern air defense systems. Above all, this is the result of the professional work of Ukrainian servicemen — operators of anti-aircraft missile systems, military pilots, mobile fire groups, electronic warfare units, radio engineering troops, radar station crews, and everyone who defends Ukrainian skies around the clock.
Every downed cruise missile is experience, composure, cold calculation, and a decision made in a matter of seconds. It is the professionalism of Ukraine’s sky defenders that has become one of the main factors preventing russia’s missile terror plan from succeeding.
Furthermore, the experience of 2023 and subsequent years of war shows that the Patriot, NASAMS, IRIS-T, SAMP/T, and other air defense systems provided to Ukraine have become a reliable shield for Ukrainian cities. Together with Ukrainian systems, they have created a layered defense that allows for the effective destruction of even the most advanced enemy cruise missiles.
This is not only a demonstration of the high quality of Western weaponry but also confirmation that the support of international partners directly saves the lives of Ukrainians, strengthens our state’s defense capabilities, and enhances the security of all of Europe.
At the same time, every downed missile represents a twofold defeat for russia. On the one hand, the enemy fails to accomplish its combat mission. On the other, it is forced to spend additional resources on producing precision weapons under conditions of international sanctions, component shortages, and regular strikes by Ukrainian Defense Forces on russian defense industry enterprises.
This is precisely why the Kremlin is increasingly forced to rely on the mass use of strike drones, attempting to compensate for the losses of expensive missile weaponry.
Thus, the figure 4,887 is much more than just statistics from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
It is nearly five thousand thwarted russian strikes. Nearly five thousand chances for Ukrainian cities to avoid destruction. Nearly five thousand costly mistakes by the Kremlin.
And while russia continues to invest billions of dollars in producing new cruise missiles, Ukrainian servicemen prove a simple truth every day: the enemy’s best and most expensive missile is a destroyed one.
Because behind every downed missile is the most valuable thing any state has — the lives of its people. That is why the number 4,887 is not just an indicator of the effectiveness of Ukrainian air defense. It is a symbol of the professionalism of Ukrainian warriors, the real strength of international military support, and the indomitability and steadfastness of Ukraine in its fight for its sky.
Author: Ivan Ariefiev
Collage: Andrii Atlantov
