Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently marked a significant milestone with the successful deployment of Kyiv’s new drone missile, Palianytsia.
This long-range weapon, developed over the past 18 months, has the potential to strike around two dozen Russian military airfields.
It made its combat debut over the weekend, successfully hitting a military facility in a territory currently occupied by Russia, as reported by Minister of Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshin on Telegram.
In a social media post, Zelensky emphasized the critical need to target the source of the missile threat against Ukraine. “Over the last two and a half years, Russia has unleashed about 10,000 missiles and more than 33,000 glide bombs on our country,” he stated. “To protect our cities, we must hit the carriers—Russian aircraft at military airfields.”
“Yesterday marked the first successful operational use of our Ukrainian-made long-range drone, Palianytsia,” he added. “Its development is aimed at undermining the enemy’s offensive capabilities.”
Zelensky assured that production of the Palianytsia drone will ramp up, similar to the growth seen with Ukraine’s long-range strike drone initiatives.
In the two and a half years of full-scale war, Russia has launched about 10,000 missiles of various types and more than 33,000 glide bombs at Ukraine. Stopping attacks on our cities can be achieved by targeting the carriers of this weaponry—Russian aircraft stationer at military… pic.twitter.com/mzisamRWd8
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 25, 2024
In a video shared by Zelensky, the reasoning behind the Palianytsia’s development was explained. It highlighted that targeting the launch platforms for Russian missiles is essential, although Ukraine’s allies have yet to provide the necessary weaponry for such operations.
This domestic initiative has led to the Palianytsia’s creation, with most details under wraps, including its operational range and warhead specifications. It’s publicly known that the drone launches from the ground and uses turbojet propulsion.
The Ukrainian government claims that Palianytsia is cost-effective compared to similar models, with efforts ongoing to further reduce costs and increase its production.
The narrator concluded the video by stating, “Palianytsia’s mission is to safeguard the civilian population by neutralizing the enemy’s offensive capabilities on their territory.”
Earlier this month, Ukraine also launched an offensive in the Russian region of Kursk, leading to mass evacuations of Russian civilians from the area.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova commented on Ukraine’s actions, declaring that they have extinguished any hope for peace negotiations. “Who will negotiate after the terror they unleash against civilians and infrastructure?” she remarked.
As Ukraine celebrated its 33rd Independence Day, Zelensky expressed confidence in Ukraine’s future, stating, “We will always celebrate this day in our free capital and our sovereign state. Ukraine’s independence is unequivocal, solidified through our unity and resilience.”