The Banderol: the US$100,000 "missile spam" Russia is using to terrorise Odesa
In recent months the name "Banderol" has been increasingly cropping up in Ukrainian social media communities that track the weapons Russia uses in its attacks on Ukraine. On 9 August alone, Russian forces launched 11 Banderol missiles on Odesa, along with several Kh-59 cruise missiles. And although most were shot down by the Ukrainian Air Force, some of them got through.
Missile attacks of this kind have become an almost daily occurrence. Banderol strikes are among the factors that have forced Ukraine to close its Black Sea ports. Vladyslav Vlasiuk, the Presidential Commissioner for Sanctions Policy, says these missiles are involved in around 80% of Russian attacks on Odesa's infrastructure.
Moscow is ramping up production of the Banderol and can now make dozens every month. Read on to find out how the Russians developed this new low-cost cruise missile, and why it represents a fresh challenge for Ukraine's air defence forces.