Kh-101 missile upgraded, Russia's air strikes increasingly fierce

Russia's recent missile attack on Ukraine marked the use of the Kh-101 long-range air-launched cruise missile equipped with a cluster warhead.

As part of a Russian attack on the southwestern Ukrainian city of Chernivtsi in mid-July, the new clip, apparently filmed from the window of an apartment building, shows a missile plummeting to the ground at a steep angle. Photo: @TheDeadDistrict.

A series of explosions followed, similar to sub-munitions. A large plume of black smoke rose from the area. Photo: @TheDeadDistrict.

The Ukrainian State Emergency Service said that the Russian attack on Chernivtsi caused damage to administrative and residential buildings, as well as vehicles. Two people were killed and 14 others were injured to varying degrees of severity. Photo: @TheDeadDistrict.

In their most basic definition, cluster munitions are bombs, rockets, artillery shells, and other projectiles that, when fired, open up in mid-air and release dozens or even hundreds of smaller weapons. These submunitions are often high explosives or mines, which are covered by numerous international treaties, including the Convention on Cluster Munitions. Photo: @Air Force Materiel Command.

This dispersion increases the physical area of ​​destruction more than a single warhead. As well as the indiscriminate nature of the damage when used over a populated area, large numbers of submunitions fail to detonate on initial impact. They can then endanger rescue efforts and, if not secured, can remain a potential threat to civilians for years. Photo: @Air Force Materiel Command.

While it's not known for sure what type of weapon was used, the only plausible weapon we see in this video is most likely the Russian Kh-101 long-range cruise missile. Photo: @militarnyi.

Given the distance from Chernivtsi to Russia — just 20 miles from the border with NATO member Romania — the Kh-101 long-range cruise missile is the only logical candidate for Russia to carry out this attack. Photo: @TheDeadDistrict.

Russian military sources and defense-related Telegram channels have acknowledged the existence of a variant of the Kh-101 long-range cruise missile with a cluster warhead. They also claim that it is designed to overcome previous shortcomings in attacking dispersed targets such as Ukrainian airports and air defense systems. Photo: @Aviation Week.

The Kh-101 missile's maximum range is believed to be between 3,000 and 4,000 km. The missile went into serial production in 2010-2011 and was later used in Russia's campaign in Syria, launched from both Tu-160 and Tu-95MS bombers. Photo: @Бабель.

However, the Kh-101 is a valuable weapon and not a surplus after years of fighting in Ukraine, so using it selectively is clearly a top priority for the Russian Air Force. In other words, the targets are not chosen arbitrarily, whether civilian or military. Photo: @ Aviation Week.

The use of Kh-101 missiles with submunitions in civilian areas is a clear violation of international law. At the same time, with Russia and Ukraine both refusing to sign the Convention on Cluster Munitions (which bans such weapons), the use of Kh-101 missiles with submunitions will continue and likely expand further in the conflict. Photo: @Бабель.

As for the Kh-101 long-range cruise missile, Russia is doing everything possible to increase production of this weapon, which gives the Russian Air Force the only means to strike deeper into Ukraine. Photo: @ Aviation Week.

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