President Zelenskyy claims the missile was developed domestically to neutralize Russia’s offensive capabilities, but a military video from Ukraine suggests that it has a range of up to 700 kilometers, comparable to the ATACMS missiles supplied by the US.
According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine has successfully tested its first ballistic missile made in the country.
“The first ballistic missile test conducted by Ukraine was successful. Following the Ukraine 2024 Independence forum in the nation’s capital, Kiev, Zelenskyy made the following statement at a news conference on Tuesday: “I congratulate our military-industrial complex on this.”
Zelenskyy declared on Saturday that the first-ever combat deployment of Ukraine’s indigenously manufactured Palianytsia long-range missile drone had been accomplished.
Zelenskyy uploaded a video with the statement, “It was designed domestically to destroy the enemy’s offensive potential,” on X. The video revealed that the missile drone is launched from a ground-based platform and is propelled by a turbojet engine.
The specs for Palianytsia remain unchanged at this time.
However, it was implied in a Ukrainian military film that its range is comparable to the ATACMS supplied by the US, up to 700 kilometers.
It added that the Palianytsia can reach at least 20 Russian airfields and displayed a map with many airfields, including the Savasleyka air base in Russia, which is located within that range.
Although the US and other Western allies give Ukraine long-range weaponry, they forbid it from launching them deeply into Russia out of concern that the conflict will worsen. Ukraine wishes to penetrate further into Russia, but it can only target the border areas.
Kursk
incursion
Regarding the current Ukrainian incursion in Kursk, Russia’s border region, Zelenskyy refuted the notion that Kiev has “occupied” Russian territory.
“We’re on the defensive with this. We offer the chance to establish buffer zones. Our goal is to stop people from occupying our property. We are making every effort to stop them from seizing any more of our land—they have already taken over 27% of it,” he stated.
Additionally, he claimed that Russian advances in the northeastern Kharkiv region of Ukraine were halted by Kiev’s offensive in Kursk.
Zelenskyy asserted that Russia planned to launch such offensives in the Sumy and Chernihiv areas of Ukraine.
Kiev’s activities in Kursk, according to the president of Ukraine, are “one of the points of Ukraine’s victory plan,” which he promised to give to US President Joe Biden the next month.
Furthermore, I believe it is appropriate to give the proposal to both Kamala Harris and (former US President Donald) Trump, as we have no idea who would win the presidency. And we truly intend to carry out this strategy,” Zelenskyy continued.
Oleksandr Syrsky, the head of Ukraine’s army, stated on Tuesday that his forces had taken 594 Russian servicemen hostage during the three-week incursion and that they currently controlled 1,294 square kilometers and 100 villages in Kursk.
F-16s are used by Ukraine
Zelenskyy also mentioned F16 fighter jets, claiming that some of the aircraft sent to Kiev were able to intercept missiles during Russia’s Monday airstrikes around the nation.
He said that the electricity infrastructure of his nation has suffered “serious damage” as a result of Russian airstrikes.
The president of Ukraine went on to say that while Ukraine would take requests from European businesses, it would not renew its gas transit arrangement with Russia.
Zelenskyy stated that a decision on the establishment of a ministry to bring together Ukrainians residing overseas is anticipated in the fall.
“This mission is extremely challenging for any ministry. I am referring to the institutionalization of this process, not individuals or personalities. Nobody has had a more difficult task than returning 7.5 million individuals.
“We must restore the adult population, as well as our children and students, free from coercion. To get people to want to do this, we have to set up every circumstance,” he remarked.
