---
title: "Active Defense: How Ukraine Plans to Destroy Russian Ballistic Launchers Before Launch"
description: "🚀 Ukraine plans to intercept Russian ballistic missiles at the launch stage: experts explain how this is possible. Active defense requires instant reaction and domestic missiles. #Ukraine #Russia #Ballistics #Defense"
date: 2026-08-06T06:38:01.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/active-defense-ukraine-plans-to-destroy-russian-ballistic-launchers-before-launch
tags: [Украина, Россия, Баллистика, Оборона, Военные эксперты]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Active Defense: How Ukraine Plans to Destroy Russian Ballistic Launchers Before Launch

![Russian ballistic missile launcher on a training ground, ready for missile launch](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/06/aktivnaya-oborona-ukraina-planiruet-unichtozhat-russkie-ballisticheskie-puskovye-ustanovki-do-starta/aktivnaya-oborona-ukraina-planiruet-unichtozhat-russkie-ballisticheskie-puskovye-ustanovki-do-starta-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Ukraine plans to destroy Russian ballistic missile launchers before the missiles are fired
- Implementing this scenario requires maximum speed and coordination between intelligence and strike assets
- Developing Ukraine's own ballistic missile program could become a key factor in deterrence
- There are disagreements regarding the practical feasibility of the active defense scenario

Amid the escalation of missile attacks from Russia, Ukrainian military experts and analysts are raising the issue of shifting from passive defense to an active strategy to counter ballistic threats. According to an RBK-Ukraine article based on the opinions of military specialists Alexander Kovalenko and Ivan Stupak, one of the most effective ways to neutralize the threat is to destroy launchers before the missile is even fired.

### Active Defense Scenario: Theory and Practice

As military and political commentator Alexander Kovalenko notes, implementing such a scenario is technically feasible but requires unprecedented reaction speed and coordination between intelligence services and strike assets. "It is necessary to identify the launcher during its deployment or preparation phase and strike it within a matter of minutes," he emphasizes.

A key element of this strategy is the development of Ukraine's own ballistic missile program. Only the availability of operational-tactical missiles with high delivery speeds will allow for a real-time response to threats. The expert links this to the need to create domestic production of ballistic missiles capable of striking targets at significant distances.

### Expert Opinion: From Statements to Serial Production

Military expert Ivan Stupak agrees that active defense could become one of the key elements of Ukraine's future defense system. In his opinion, if there is reliable information about the preparation of a Russian ballistic missile launch, the optimal solution would be to destroy the launcher itself before launch.

"I hope that the Ukrainian programs, which have been discussed extensively recently, will indeed move from statements to serial production," Stupak stated, emphasizing the importance of practically implementing plans to create domestic ballistic missiles.

### Contradictory Data

While experts agree that destroying launchers before launch is a theoretically possible and strategically important scenario, there are disagreements regarding its practical feasibility. On one hand, RBK-Ukraine and other sources indicate that Ukraine is already planning such actions and considering them part of its defense doctrine. On the other hand, some analysts express skepticism about Ukraine's ability to promptly detect and strike mobile launchers, especially given their high mobility and camouflage.

There is also uncertainty regarding how quickly Ukraine can deploy its own ballistic missile production and integrate them into the existing air defense and strike force systems. Some sources suggest the process could take several years, making current active defense plans more of a long-term strategy than an immediate solution.

### Context and Previous Statements

Previously, RBK-Ukraine reported that Ukraine plans to destroy Russian ballistic missile launchers. We also wrote about the position of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which emphasized the necessity of destroying such launchers as part of a general strategy to counter Russian missile threats.

Overall, experts agree that developing a domestic ballistic missile program and transitioning to active defense could become key factors in deterring Russian attacks. However, implementing these plans requires not only technological and production efforts but also a high degree of coordination between various agencies and allies.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Уничтожить еще до пуска: способна ли Украина останавливать российскую баллистику на старте - РБК-Україна](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijwFBVV95cUxNMjUzVFFsUTdTQmdjb1BkMDEyWl9MaTRhMXVKdUpRaXYzZmh1ckhRRFB3NEhmTV9IWlRDRVdqS1pLMl9iYk0xaTJhSmx2b3lQcnY3cjZkZTY1c1lSa1dMYVM3clZYMU5sWHByWG1DLWtJSmlIYWZaWnRab1ZhQTB1LXFLQktDQ0k0NnZxVmxvSdIBlAFBVV95cUxNVE5LMDlUdU5xeXIwZ2kyZzNsR2psTUdxZEYtWl8wczZ4ZDgyc240dFpvMUNmR2VpMC1JTFo3WVJpWnNVaDlJOE1xUTNmUERnejV0Rk5GcVd3VEYyVmptMXYwNnVZQi01emNHMkVHR0lSTlphV25NenBnWnF2QkN5Qm5UT3gxc1JXWU9WT1E0UGJpU0RM?oc=5) - Материал содержит мнения экспертов Александра Коваленко и Ивана Ступака о возможности уничтожения пусковых установок до запуска ракет.
- ["Мы в критической фазе массированных атак": эксперты назвали завтрашние сценарии войны и обстрелов - ТСН](https://news.google.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?oc=5) - Материал содержит мнения экспертов Александра Коваленко и Ивана Ступака о возможности уничтожения пусковых установок до запуска ракет.