Skip to content

Model · Missiles

Kh-101: strategic cruise missile

Kh-101: an air-launched strategic cruise missile Russia fires from bombers at targets across Ukraine. Warhead, range and upgrades.

Speed
680–​1,000 km/h
Warhead
480–​960 kg
Cost
~$13.8M

According to open sources; claimed and real figures may differ, and modifications may have others.

What it is

A strategic cruise missile launched from strategic bombers. Its baseline range was more than the war against Ukraine required, so part of the fuel tank was replaced with a second warhead: according to Militarnyi, 800–960 kg in total, with a range of about 2,250 km.

It can fly high along its route, but inside air-defence zones it drops to 30–70 m and hugs the terrain to hide from radar.

What it means for you

It can fly for hours, so the first reports in the feed are about bombers taking off or launching. Spotters then follow the missile itself from district to district. A siren is the signal to go to a shelter, even if there is no marker nearby yet.

Specifications

Warhead
480 kg; 800–960 kg on upgraded tandem versions[2]
Range
baseline 5,500 km; upgraded versions roughly 2,250 km[2]
Flight altitude
cruise up to 10,000 m; drops to 30–70 m in air-defence zones[2]
Speed
cruise 680–720 km/h, top speed up to 970 km/h (Militarnyi); 900–1,000 km/h (HUR)[1][2]

What to do

  1. 1When you hear the “Air raid alert!” signal, go to the nearest shelter at once. Find out in advance where it is near your home and work.
  2. 2If you cannot reach a shelter, move to a room without windows and follow the “two walls” rule.
  3. 3Agree with your family on what to do and where to meet if the phone network or the power goes down.

A marker on our map may appear late or not at all. Go by the siren, not by the map.

State Emergency Service of Ukraine. What to do when the “Air raid alert!” signal sounds (in Ukrainian)checked 2 Oct 2026

How it looks on our map

Movement

A dot, then a course

Marker lives

3–6 min

  • While only the district is known, the target is shown as a dot; a silhouette with a course appears once it is seen moving.
  • If there are no new reports about the target, the marker closes after 3–6 min.

Sources

  1. 1

    HUR (Defence Intelligence of Ukraine), War&Sanctions

    Kh-101 missilechecked 2 Oct 2026
  2. 2

    Militarnyi

    The Kh-101 in the war against Ukraine: development, upgrades and new capabilitieschecked 2 Oct 2026
  3. 3

    Forbes Ukraine

    A $200,000 “Shahed” and a pricey Kh-101: how much Russia's long-range weapons cost, according to HURchecked 2 Oct 2026
Open the map →