--- title: "Russia strikes Kyiv for the first time with upgraded 'Iskander-1000' ballistic missile: what is known about the 550 km-range weapon" description: "The GUR reported Russia's first use of the upgraded 9M723-2 'Iskander-1000' ballistic missile in a strike on Kyiv. The new weapon's range reaches 550 km. On the night and during the day of August 27, the capital was again subjected to attacks." date: 2026-08-27T11:48:04.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/russia-strikes-kyiv-with-upgraded-iskander-1000-ballistic-missile tags: [ukraine-war, ballistic-missile, iskander, kyiv, russia, gur] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Russia strikes Kyiv for the first time with upgraded 'Iskander-1000' ballistic missile: what is known about the 550 km-range weapon ![Iskander missile system launcher with two missiles in transport erector launchers — the platform behind the upgraded Iskander-1000](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/27/rf-primenila-iskander-1000-po-kievu/rf-primenila-iskander-1000-po-kievu-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - The GUR announced Russia's first use of the 9M723-2 'Iskander-1000' ballistic missile ('Bora-M' system) in a strike on Kyiv this summer. - Thanks to an enlarged engine and launch platform, the missile's range reached up to 550 km, compared to 390 km for the 9M723-1. - On August 27, Kyiv and the oblast were subjected to nighttime and daytime missile and drone attacks; three people were injured. - The GUR earlier revealed the 'Iskander-M' production network: about 140 components across 35 enterprises. Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) reported that during one of the combined missile strikes on the capital this summer, the enemy used for the first time the upgraded 9M723-2 ballistic missiles, which in Ukrainian terminology have been given the provisional name 'Iskander-1000'. According to the agency, this missile is part of the 'Bora-M' system. ### What is known about the new missile As clarified by the GUR, the upgraded warhead, thanks to an enlarged engine and an extended launch platform, is capable of striking targets at a distance of up to 550 km, whereas the range of the basic 9M723-1 version was about 390 km. According to intelligence assessments, the remaining elements of the missile remained unchanged compared to the previous modification.### The 'terrorist nature' of the strikes The agency emphasized that in recent months Russia has been using ballistic weapons as the primary means of air attacks. The fact that such strikes are carried out predominantly at night, and that the flight time of the ballistic missile to the Ukrainian capital is only a few minutes, indicates, according to the GUR, the purely terrorist nature of the attacks. This tactic, intelligence assesses, is aimed at intimidating the population and attempting to force Kyiv into peace at any cost. ### The August 27 attacks: night and day On the night of August 27, Russia attacked Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast: debris fell in the Podilskyi and Shevchenkivskyi districts of the capital, and warehouse facilities in the oblast were hit. In the morning the attack continued — in the Holosiivskyi district a car caught fire due to an enemy strike, and the fire was extinguished; in the Pecherskyi district a sports complex building was damaged. Social media reported a possible direct drone hit near the 'Dynamo' stadium area and published footage of smoke rising over the sports complex. Around noon, Russia attacked Kyiv with drones for the second time that day, and air defense units were active. As a result of the attacks, three people were injured. ### The system's production network Earlier, the GUR revealed the production network for the 'Iskander-M' system's missiles: according to the agency, it comprises around 140 components produced at 35 enterprises with the involvement of hundreds of workers. This points to a large-scale and distributed production structure, which intelligence considers vulnerable to precision strikes. ### A note on terminology It should be noted that in Ukrainian and international media the missile appears under various names: as 'Iskander-1000', as 9M723-2, and as an element of the 'Bora-M' system. According to the GUR's statement, all these designations refer to the same upgraded ballistic warhead, so it is important in publications not to conflate them with the classic 'Iskander-M' operational-tactical system. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Russia begins striking Kyiv with upgraded 'Iskander-1000' ballistic missile, says GUR](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/rf-pochala-biti-kievu-onovlenoyu-balistikoyu-1787830794.html) - Первичное сообщение ГУР о первом применении 9М723-2 и дальности до 550 км. - [Russia uses 'Iskander-1000' against Kyiv: what is known about the missile](https://ura-inform.com/proisshestviya-ru/2026/08/27/rossiya-primenila-iskander-1000-protiv-kieva-chto-izvestno-o-rakete/) - Подтверждает характеристики ракеты и контекст атак. - [Russia strikes Kyiv for the first time with new ballistic missile: what is known about the 'Iskander-1000' and why it is more dangerous](https://kyiv.tsn.ua/ru/kyiv/rossiya-vpervye-udarila-po-kievu-novoy-ballistikoy-chto-izvestno-ob-iskandere-1000-i-chem-on-opasnee-3157028.html) - Совпадает по факту первого применения и оценке опасности. - [140 components, 35 enterprises and hundreds of workers - GUR reveals the production network of the missiles ...](https://unn.ua/ru/news/140-komponentov-35-predpriyatii-i-sotni-rabotnikov-gur-raskrilo-proizvodstvennuyu-set-raket-iskander-m) - Дополнительный контекст о производственной сети комплекса. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: What is the 'Iskander-1000'? **A:** It is the provisional name for the upgraded 9M723-2 ballistic missile, which is part of the 'Bora-M' system. According to the GUR, it differs from the 9M723-1 by having an enlarged engine and launch platform. ### Q: What is the range of the new missile? **A:** According to the GUR's assessment, up to 550 km, whereas the basic 9M723-1 has a range of about 390 km. ### Q: When was it first used? **A:** The GUR states that the missile was first used in one of the combined missile strikes on Kyiv this summer. ### Q: What happened in Kyiv on August 27? **A:** At night and during the day, the capital and the oblast were subjected to missile and drone attacks; debris fell in the Podilskyi and Shevchenkivskyi districts, buildings were damaged, and three people were injured.