Why can’t Ukraine simply destroy Russian missile launchers targeting its cities?

Russian Iskander launchers, which fire ballistic missiles at Ukrainian cities, pose a serious challenge for Ukraine because they can quickly change positions and remain unnoticed. Presidential adviser Serhii Beskrestnov explains that these launchers hide on forest roads, deploy, and leave within minutes, making them extremely difficult to catch.

The main reason Ukraine cannot simply destroy these launchers is their mobility and concealment. Unlike stationary targets, these systems do not stay in one place for long. They use forest roads to hide from surveillance and briefly move into position only to conduct a launch.

The time window during which these launchers can be detected and struck is extremely narrow. Once a launch is complete, they immediately withdraw, avoiding a counterstrike. This means Ukrainian forces must constantly monitor vast areas and respond very quickly in the hope of reaching such targets.

The difficulty therefore lies in the tactics of using these systems. Effectively countering them would require highly accurate intelligence and real-time coordination. However, even then, the network of forests and roads gives Russian forces a way to disappear quickly, making this one of the most difficult tasks for the Ukrainian military.