Ukraine Unveils New Ruta Block 1 Cruise Missile in Strikes on Russia

Ukraine's Armed Forces have reportedly begun using a new weapon against Russia – the low-cost Ruta Block 1 cruise missile. According to Russian sources, the missile recently appeared over Russian territory, marking what could be its first documented operational use. Last week, several Russian Telegram channels published footage that they claimed showed a Ruta Block 1 missile flying over Russia, along with photographs of debris reportedly recovered after Russian air defense systems intercepted the weapon. The images showed sections of the missile's fuselage, internal components, and tail assembly. Ruta Block 1 Offers Affordable Long-Range Strike Capability According to the Telegram channel Military Chronicle, the current Ruta Block 1 variant has a declared range of up to 300 kilometers and can carry a warhead weighing as much as 150 kilograms. The publication also reported that developers are already working on the more capable Block 2 and Block 3 versions, which promise significantly greater performance.