Ukraine has apparently used Ruta Block 1 cruise missiles, developed by the Dutch company Destinus, founded by Mikhail Kokorich, the founder of Russia’s first private space company, for strikes against Russian territory for the first time. This is evidenced by photographs of the Ruta Block 1’s wreckage published by Russian z-bloggers. According to The War Zone (TWZ), these photographs are the first public confirmation of its combat use. There is no independent verification yet. Russian “war correspondents” claim the missile was intercepted by air defense systems, but this information has not been confirmed.
The published footage shows fuselage fragments, internal components, and a portion of the tail assembly consistent with the known Ruta Block 1 design. TWZ, however, does not rule out the possibility that the debris may belong to a previously unknown Ukrainian cruise missile with similar characteristics. A video has also surfaced online, purportedly capturing the Ruta Block 1’s flight to its target.
According to TWZ, Ruta Block 1 missiles are manufactured in the Netherlands and have been supplied to Ukraine since at least 2024. Last month, then-Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced that the Netherlands would finance the delivery of approximately 700 cruise missiles to Kyiv as part of a military aid package worth over $500 million. The publication notes that this almost certainly referred to Ruta Block 1.
According to the manufacturer, the missile has a range of over 300 km and carries a 150 kg warhead. It is launched from the ground using a booster and then flies at low altitude using a combination of inertial, satellite, and visual navigation, maintaining accuracy even in GPS jamming conditions. Unlike more expensive Western counterparts, the Ruta Block 1 was developed as a relatively inexpensive cruise missile for mass production. An additional advantage is its proprietary turbojet engine, developed by Destinus, which makes the company independent of American suppliers.
In the early 2010s, Kokorich founded Dauria Aerospace, Russia’s first private space company. After emigrating, he founded Destinus in Switzerland , and after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, he refocused the company on weapons production. In 2024, Kokorich renounced his Russian citizenship, and Destinus’ headquarters were moved to the Netherlands. Today, the company produces long-range drones and Ruta cruise missiles, and is developing new modifications with increased range.