Russia ‘incapable of producing missiles at the rate they are being used’

Russia is “probably incapable of producing advanced munitions” at the rate they are being used, according to the latest update from the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

The MoD said attacks like those launched across Ukraine on Monday, in which Russia fired some 80 cruise missiles, represented a “further degradation of Russia’s long-range missile stocks, which is likely to constrain their ability to strike the volume of targets they desire in future”.

“On 10 October, Russia probably fired more than 80 cruise missiles into Ukraine. President Putin claimed the strikes were in retaliation for the attack on the Kerch Bridge.

“Ukraine’s defence ministry reported that more than half of the projectiles were shot down, but dozens struck Kyiv and other population centres, killing civilians and damaging infrastructure,” the latest intelligence briefing says.

“Russia’s defence industry is probably incapable of producing advanced munitions at the rate they are being expended.

“These attacks represent a further degradation of Russia’s long-range missile stocks, which is likely to constrain their ability to strike the volume of targets they desire in future.”

It comes after Ukraine was warned to brace for blackouts last night as Russian missile strikes continued to target key energy facilities.

Emergency repairs were carried out on a Kyiv power installation after it suffered heavy damage in the latest bombing raid.

The attack plunged vast swathes of the capital city into darkness but no one was killed.

Ukraine’s state energy operator said power had been restored across the country but called for rationing between the peak hours of 5pm and 11pm.

Senior adviser Kyrylo Tymoshenko said: "If this advice is ignored, it will be necessary to take out the candles."

The attacks are believed to have been carried out using Iranian-made drones and S-300 missiles. But Russian troops continue to be forced back by a counter-offensive in the east.

Ukrainian officials said previously just over 500 settlements were liberated in the north-east Kharkiv region where forces have advanced deep into Russian lines, officials have said.

A further 50 settlements were liberated in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and 75 in the southern Kherson area.

On Saturday, the MoD said many Russian reservists called up to fight in Ukraine are having to buy their own body armour and “endemic corruption and poor logistics” remained a cause of Russia’s “poor performance” in Ukraine.