According to commentators at the Chinese portal Sohu, Russian forces have begun using the new Izdeliye 30 cruise missile in the special military operation zone. In the outlet’s assessment, the weapon has come as an unexpected challenge for Ukraine’s air defense system.

The publication describes it as an air-launched missile with high effectiveness that is extremely difficult for modern air defense systems to intercept. Sohu says the introduction of Izdeliye 30 could make Russian strikes less predictable and more difficult for Ukrainian defenses to counter.

One of the missile’s main strengths, according to the outlet, is its flexibility in combat use. The authors argue that relying on tactical aviation rather than strategic aircraft makes it possible to strike a wide range of targets. Although each aircraft can carry only a limited number of missiles, Sohu notes that large-scale use of such sorties turns this threat into a far more difficult problem for Ukraine.

Analysts cited by the publication believe Izdeliye 30 could make Russia’s strike capabilities more variable and harder to anticipate. They also point out that missile interception remains one of the most serious problems for the Ukrainian armed forces. Against that backdrop, the continuing modernization of Russian weapons systems is forcing Kiev to commit ever more resources to defense.