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Open source photographs from 31 March 2024 showed missile debris that had impacted in a field in Saratov Oblast, southern Russia. Initially thought to be pieces of a possible Ukrainian uncrewed aerial vehicle, closer inspection revealed the debris to highly likely be fragments of a Russian AS-23a KODIAK air-launched cruise missile.

It is highly likely the debris was the result of a malfunction of a KODIAK missile that was launched towards Ukraine earlier that morning. Saratov Oblast is a known launch box for Russian Long-Range Aviation bomber strikes and is the home of Engels Airfield, where several of the bombers are based.

The AS-23a KODIAK is Russia's premier precision guided munition, with a range of approximately 4,000km. It has been used extensively against Ukraine, most recently targeting energy infrastructure across the country. The highly likely malfunction of such a prestigious missile indicates issues in its production, likely impacted by sanctions and being rushed to meet the demands of the conflict.