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Ukraine successfully tested its first home-made ballistic missile.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the developments at a forum on Tuesday.
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There is little information about the weapon, but it is the latest Ukrainian innovation.
Ukraine has successfully tested its first domestically produced ballistic missile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Tuesday.
“Now that we are talking about it, I thought it might be too early to talk about it, but I want the public to appreciate the work of our people who work 24/7 in the defense industry. There was a successful first test of Ukraine’s first ballistic missile,” Zelenskyy said at the Ukraine 2024 Independence Forum in Kyiv.
Zelenskyy did not provide additional details about the test or the missile, but the development of a ballistic missile marks a significant milestone for Ukraine. It is unclear what stage of development the weapon is in or when it could be used against Russia.
News of the missile test comes as Ukraine remains limited in its ability to use Western missiles. The US, for example, has provided Ukraine with tactical ballistic missiles — specifically MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems, also known as ATACMS — but has banned Kiev from using these weapons to attack targets outside its borders.
Ukrainian officials have long tried to convince the United States and other Western countries to lift restrictions on Kiev’s use of weapons, arguing that doing so holds the country back and prevents it from effectively fighting the Russians. The Russians routinely fire missiles into Ukraine, targeting cities and critical infrastructure.
Zelensky’s comments on the missile test, which published by UNITED24a Ukrainian government initiative that has fueled Kiev’s war effort through fundraising initiatives, came amid a broader debate over other homemade weapons.
Ukraine has produced a wide variety of home-made weapons during the war, including naval drones and anti-ship missiles. It has also repurposed these missiles for land attacks.
And last weekend Ukraine had a new drone with long range in a battle that the military says could bring dozens of Russian military airfields within range.
“The Palianytsia rocket was launched recently and it is a very serious matter. There were some problems, but they have been resolved,” the Ukrainian president said at Tuesday’s forum. “This is an essential defense for our state.”
His comments came a day after Russia his biggest attack on Ukraine of the war, which Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said underscores the need for more long-range weapons.
“This proves once again that for victory we need long-range capabilities and that restrictions on attacks on enemy military facilities must be lifted,” he said. wrote on Facebook. “Ukraine is preparing its answers. Weapons of its own production.”
Read the original article at Company Insider
