Ukraine Stockpiles Indigenous Ballistic Missiles

Specifications for Hrim-2

• Name: Grom-2 / Hrim-2
• Type: short-range ballistic missile (SRBM)
• Yuzhnoye Design Bureau in Ukraine is the developer.
• Yuzhmash (Pivdenmash) is the maker.
• Status: Limited testing and production phase
• Length: about 10.5 meters
• Diameter: about 0.92 meters
• Weight at Launch: about 3,500 to 4,000 kg
• Type of Warhead: High-explosive fragmentation, cluster, or penetration
• Weight of the warhead: about 480 kg
• Propulsion: A single-stage solid-fuel rocket motor
• Help System: Inertial navigation with the option of satellite correction (GLONASS/GPS)
• Estimated accuracy (CEP): ≤50 meters
• Distance: Export version: 280 km (follows MTCR rules)
• Range: Up to 500 km or more for the Ukrainian version
• Start Road-mobile 6×6 or 8×8 wheeled TEL platform
• Time to Launch: About 10 minutes after stopping
• Time to reload: about 30 to 60 minutes
• Crew: 3 to 4 people
• Similar to the Russian Iskander-M, the US ATACMS, and the Chinese DF-12
• Funding Help: Initially, Saudi Arabia provided financial support for the project to facilitate its growth.

Other Important Facts

• The Hrim-2 reportedly underwent testing against Russian targets during the 2024–2025 conflict.
• The Hrim-2 is Ukraine’s first homegrown ballistic missile system that can hit targets far away without needing help from other countries.
• According to reports, Saudi Arabia helped pay for the missile’s development as part of a joint export agreement.
• Ukraine’s domestic version fails to meet the MTCR-compliant export range limit of 300 km.
• Ukrainian officials and President Zelenskyy have recently hinted that the Hrim-2 may have been tested in combat, possibly targeting strategic assets in occupied territories or inside Russia.

Its range is around 280–500 kilometers, depending on its configuration, and it can carry a warhead weighing up to 500 kilograms. The missile’s guidance system most likely combines inertial navigation and GPS corrections, allowing it to hit targets with high accuracy.

Its mobile launch platform, usually mounted on a wheeled chassis, allows for quick deployment and concealment, making it a difficult target for enemy forces.

The Hrim-2’s design is based on decades of Ukrainian engineering, dating back to the Soviet R-12 and R-16 missiles, which were among the first to carry nuclear warheads.

Unlike its predecessors, the Hrim-2 is designed for conventional warfare, giving Ukraine the ability to strike Russian military infrastructure, command posts, or supply lines from long distances.

This milestone stems from Ukraine’s urgent need to reduce its reliance on Western military aid. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Kyiv has relied heavily on long-range strike systems such as the US Army Tactical Missile System [ATACMS] and the British-French Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles.

However, these weapons are subject to restrictions, as Western allies, concerned about escalation, have limited their use to targets deep within Russia.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Ukrainian Missiles

O On May 2, 2025, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated, “Our long-range capabilities are a clear and effective guarantee for Ukraine’s security,” emphasizing the importance of accelerating domestic missile production.

President Zelenskyy first announced the successful test of a Ukrainian-made ballistic missile in August 2024, which was an important achievement.

Oleksii Petrov, the director of Spetstechnoexport, later confirmed that flight tests of both cruise and ballistic missiles had yielded positive results, and he stated that full-scale production is scheduled for mid-2025.

T The claim regarding a missile stockpile, as reported in posts on X on June 6, suggests that Ukraine has already begun to accumulate these weapons, although the exact numbers remain unknown.

The developments are consistent with Ukraine’s overall defense strategy, which has resulted in a significant expansion of its domestic weapon industry.

In 2024, Ukraine invested more than $4 billion in its defense sector, with plans to increase funding in 2025. “Today, according to various estimates, 30 to 40 percent of what our troops use on the frontlines is made in Ukraine,” Oleksandr Kamyshin, a former Ukrainian defense official, stated in April 2025.

Launched in 2024, the ZBROYARI initiative aims to attract Western investment in domestic production and has aided this effort.

Ukrainian defense firms

The Netherlands, Denmark, and Canada have all funded Ukrainian defense firms, allowing them to expand their missile and drone manufacturing capabilities.

The capabilities of the Hrim-2 place it in a competitive category among short-range ballistic missiles. F For comparison, Russia’s Iskander-M, which is a key component of Moscow’s arsenal, has a range of up to 500 kilometers and carries a warhead of comparable weight.

However, the Iskander-M benefits from Russia’s larger production capacity, and estimates suggest that Moscow can produce dozens of these missiles each month. Availability and political constraints limit the range of the US-made ATACMS, which Ukraine received.

R Russian forces in Ukraine utilize North Korea’s KN-23 missile, which has a range of up to 800 kilometers but suffers from inconsistent accuracy, according to Ukrainian sources.

The advantage of the Hrim-2 lies in its domestic origin, which allows Ukraine to avoid external restrictions and supply chain bottlenecks.

I The reported precision of the Hrim-2, which could be as close as 50 meters to a target, makes it a viable tool for striking high-value assets, such as airfields or logistics hubs.

Ukraine’s Missile Program

Ukraine’s missile program has faced significant challenges. The Russian airstrikes have frequently targeted defense facilities, including those in Dnipro, where Yuzhmash operates.

“The whole of Ukraine’s territory is under attack,” said Mykola Sunhurovskyi, an analyst at the Razumkov Centre in Kiev, emphasizing the difficulty of protecting production sites.

The need for foreign components, despite Russian sanctions, complicates the manufacturing process. However, Ukraine’s Soviet-era expertise, developed at facilities such as Yuzhmash, lays the groundwork for future progress.

During the Cold War, the plants at Yuzhmash produced the R-16, which was the world’s first intercontinental ballistic missile, as well as the RS-36M, known as the “Satan” missile by NATO and capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads.

This legacy has enabled Ukraine to revitalize its missile production capabilities, adapting them to meet modern warfare requirements.

T The strategic implications of Ukraine’s missile stockpile are highly significant. W With Russian forces launching thousands of missiles and drones each year—Zelenskyy reported 27,700 aerial bombs and over 700 missiles in 2025 alone—Kyiv’s ability to respond with its own long-range weapons could alter the dynamics of the battlefield.

The range of the Hrim-2 enables Ukraine to target Russian military assets located in occupied territories or near the border, which could potentially disrupt supply lines and air operations.

Zelenskyy advocates for unrestricted offensive capabilities.

Posts on X from June 6 indicate that Ukraine’s strikes on Russian territory will continue, aligning with Zelenskyy’s calls for unrestricted offensive capabilities.

The mobility and precision of the Hrim-2 SRBM missile could support Ukraine’s growing fleet of long-range drones, such as the Peklo missile-drone. Kyiv plans to mass-produce the Peklo missile-drone by the end of 2025 to enhance its strike capabilities. T The international response to Ukraine’s missile program has been varied. W Western allies welcome Kyiv’s push for self-reliance but remain cautious about the potential for escalation.

ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles

T The United States and its allies have relaxed restrictions on the use of ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles. However, supplies of these advanced systems remain limited for Ukraine’s needs.

“The Defense Department continues to provide Ukraine with equipment in previously authorized packages,” a Pentagon spokesperson said in April 2025.

T The spokesperson declined to comment on any future deliveries of advanced weapons. Russians have condemned Ukraine’s missile program.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans to mass-produce the Oreshnik, a hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile, in response. Russia tested the Oreshnik missile in Ukraine in November 2024.

It has a range of up to 3,100 miles, far beyond the Hrim-2’s reach. Russian sources claim Oreshnik production faces serious bureaucratic and technological hurdles.

Ukraine’s announcement comes at a time when Russian attacks are intensifying. O On 6 June, Russian missile and drone strikes in Kharkiv resulted in injuries to 17 people, including two children.

These strikes underscore Kyiv’s urgent need to strengthen its defenses. Hrim-2’s progress reflects a larger boom in Ukraine’s defense industry.

Missile production in Ukraine

Missile production in Ukraine has grown eightfold since 2022, demonstrating rapid industrial adaptation. “We have to achieve that kind of pace,” said Serhiy Zgurets of Defence Express. H He stressed that Ukraine must match Russia’s monthly output of 40 to 50 missiles.

The success of the Hrim-2 missile could pave the way for more advanced projects. T These include the Peklo cruise missile, which is set for production in 2024, and AI-powered drones.

Ukraine’s missile ambitions have previously faced setbacks. Funding shortages and political instability stalled the Hrim-2 project, which began in 2006, until Russia’s invasion redirected efforts.

Saudi Arabia developed a version of the missile in the 2010s, demonstrating its export potential, but domestic production remained low until recent years. Ukraine’s defense industry has rapidly progressed, aided by a 775 billion hryvnia [$18.7 billion] budget for 2025. 

O On November 3, 2024, Egor Chernev, Ukraine’s NATO representative, stated that the Hrim-2’s battlefield deployment was imminent, a prediction that appears to have come true given the reported stockpile.

The emergence of Ukraine as a missile-producing nation has far-reaching implications for regional security.

Western or Russian systems

By developing its own ballistic missiles, Kyiv strengthens its deterrence and positions itself as a potential arms exporter. The Hrim-2’s range and precision may pique the interests of countries seeking cost-effective alternatives to Western or Russian systems.

However, for now, the immediate priority remains the war with Russia. The missile’s ability to strike deep into enemy territory could significantly alter Moscow’s strategic calculations.

Moreover, as Russian forces increasingly rely on North Korean-supplied missiles like the KN-23—now showing improved accuracy—Ukraine’s need for a strong countermeasure becomes even more urgent.

In my view, Ukraine’s growing missile stockpile reflects not only its resilience but also its ingenuity under intense pressure.

The Hrim-2 is far more than a piece of advanced weaponry; it symbolizes Kiev’s determination to chart its course in an asymmetrical conflict where innovation often matters as much as firepower.

Conclusion

By developing a domestic arsenal, Ukraine reduces its vulnerability to external political shifts, such as changes in US or European support.

However, concerns about the project’s long-term viability remain. Can Ukraine defend its production facilities against Russian strikes?

Will Western allies continue to support Kyiv’s ambitions without imposing new restrictions? The answers will affect not only the course of the war but also Ukraine’s position in the global defense landscape.

For now, the Hrim-2 stockpile represents a bold statement: Ukraine is no longer just a recipient of aid but a rising player in the missile race.

References

• Defence News Today – defensenewstoday.info
• Ukraine MoD on X – x.com/DefenceU
• BBC – Ukraine Defence Industry – bbc.com/news/ukraine
• Yuzhnoye Design Bureau – yuzhnoye.com
• Reuters – Missile Program – reuters.com/ukraine-missile
• Defense Express – defence-ua.com
• Facebook – Pakistan Defence Forum – facebook.com/pakistandefenseforum
• Kyiv Independent – Missile Surge – kyivindependent.com
• NATO Parliamentary Reports – nato-pa.int
• Razumkov Centre – razumkov.org.ua