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Class

Missiles: cruise, ballistic, hypersonic

Which missiles are fired at Ukraine: Kh-101 and Kalibr cruise missiles, Iskander-M and KN-23 ballistic missiles, Tsirkon. How they differ and how the map shows them.

What it is

On the map, a “missile” with no further detail is most often a cruise missile. It flies low, hugs the terrain and can change course, so spotters can track it from district to district. Examples are the Kh-101 air-launched strategic cruise missile and the 9M727 missile of the Iskander-K system (both are in HUR's catalogue).

Some variants are shown differently, because they behave differently:

  • Ballistic missiles fly on a high arc and come down within minutes of launch.
  • Hypersonic missiles behave on the map like ballistic ones.

What it means for you

While only the district is known, a cruise missile is shown as a dot. A silhouette with a heading appears once movement is visible. Reports of launches from carriers (strategic aviation, ships) appear in the feed before the missile arrives. The siren may sound before the missile shows up on the map, so don't wait for a marker.

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.

Variants

Sources

  1. 1

    HUR (Defence Intelligence of Ukraine), War&Sanctions

    Kh-101 missilechecked 2 Oct 2026
  2. 2

    HUR (Defence Intelligence of Ukraine), War&Sanctions

    9M727 cruise missile of the Iskander-K tactical missile systemchecked 2 Oct 2026
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