Zelensky announces Ukraine's first ballistic missile test

According to RT on August 28, Vladimir Zelensky said that Ukraine has test-fired its first domestically produced ballistic missile. The information was given in the context that for many months, Kiev has asked Western sponsors to allow the use of foreign missile systems to attack targets deep inside Russian territory.

The Ukrainian leader made the announcement at a press conference on August 27. “What other developments are there in Ukraine? I think it is too early to talk about it, but… there was a successful test of the first Ukrainian ballistic missile. I congratulate our military-industrial complex on this,” he said.

President Zelensky declined to provide any further details, including the specifications or even the name of the weapon, but said he wanted the public to “know and appreciate the domestic defense manufacturers who are working 24/7.”

The announcement came after Kiev said it had used the Palyanitsa drone-missile to attack Russian targets. While many of the weapon’s specifications remain secret, Ukrainian officials said it was launched from the ground and had a range of up to 700 kilometers.

According to RT, in the conflict with Russia, Ukraine still relies heavily on missile systems supplied from the West, such as HIMARS and ATACMS designed by the US. However, despite Kiev's repeated calls, Western countries still do not allow Ukraine to use their weapons to attack most targets on Russian territory recognized under international law.

Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder confirmed on August 27 that Ukraine could use US security assistance to “defend itself against cross-border attacks, in other words, respond to fire,” but not for any other purpose.

Washington authorized Kiev to carry out such strikes in late May, to counter a Russian offensive in the Kharkiv region that Moscow said was aimed at establishing a “safe zone” to protect civilians from Ukrainian attacks.

Speaking about the West’s current stance on Ukraine’s use of foreign-made long-range weapons to strike deep into Russia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said: “It is an attempt to create the impression that the West wants to avoid excessive escalation, but in fact this is a trick… We will repeat that playing with fire… is a very dangerous thing for adults who are entrusted with nuclear weapons in this or that Western country.”