Russia significantly accelerated production of Iskander missiles thanks to import of machine tools from China — Kyiv Independent

Влад Черевко - 25 June, 01:07 PM

Despite Western sanctions, Russia has managed to dramatically increase production of Iskander-M ballistic missiles. According to an investigation by Kyiv Independent, over 700 such missiles were produced in the Russian Federation last year alone — three times more than in 2023. As it turned out, the key role in this was played by the import of equipment from China, Taiwan, and Belarus, which is carried out through intermediaries.

The main executor of the expansion program was the Votkinsky Plant, an enterprise that assembles missiles of the Iskander, Yars, Bulava, and, probably, Oreshnik types. Journalists discovered that the plant began receiving new equipment from 2023, in particular, CNC metal-cutting machines, which are critical for the manufacture of missile components.

Although Western restrictions prohibit the sale of such equipment to Russia, the plant managed to circumvent the sanctions thanks to a network of intermediaries. Supplies were carried out by little-known private companies from Russia, such as Ural Machine Tool Company or Kaurus Alliance. The main source of imports was China - out of 10 identified contracts, 8 were for the Chinese mainland. Separate supplies came from Taiwan and Belarus.

In parallel, the plant expanded physically: two new workshops were built, more than 7,000 pieces of equipment were purchased, and the number of employees increased by 2,500. According to Ukrainian military intelligence, as of June 2025, Russia had accumulated at least 900 Iskander missiles - 600 Iskander-M missiles and 300 Iskander-K missiles.

Construction of a new workshop at the Votkinsk Missile Plant

Planet Labs PBC

The expansion comes amid massive strikes on Ukraine. In 2024, Russia launched 245 strikes on Ukrainian territory using Iskander missiles alone, 4.5 times more than in 2023. This year, 180 strikes have already been carried out using these missiles. However, analysts note that a significant part of the missiles remains in storage.

These facts indicate that Russia is not only compensating for missile losses, but is also preparing for a protracted confrontation.