Rocket program - Zelenskyy: Ukraine will build its own rockets
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has promised the development and construction of long-range missile systems. "Our Missile Program has good dynamics, and although the task is difficult, we are gradually getting closer to the possibility of using our own missiles and not relying only on those provided by our partners," Zelenskyy said in his daily video address. He called for maximum self-sufficiency in weapons production, and especially in missile production.
Ukraine's missile program did not start from scratch. The republic was already a major production site for Soviet missiles in the Soviet era. After the start of hostilities in eastern Ukraine between government troops and pro-Russian separatists in 2014, new missile types were presented. According to Ukrainian statements, Kiev sank the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet "Moskva" with missiles produced domestically. These are said to already have a range of nearly 300 kilometers.
Zelenskyy wants to increase this range again significantly, so that Kiev can use missiles not only for drone strikes on deep-lying Russian military objectives. However, Moscow has so far had clear advantages in this regard. The West does not allow Ukraine to use Western weapons for attacks on more distant targets in Russia, as Europeans and Americans fear an escalation of the conflict over Ukraine beyond its borders.
Zelenskyy's speech (Ukr)
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of self-production in weapons, particularly missiles, to reduce reliance on partners, highlighting the progress made in Ukraine's missile program.
- The ongoing self-production of weapons in Ukraine, including missiles, can be traced back to its history as a significant production site for Soviet missiles.
- Despite challenges, Ukraine's rocket program, as observed by Zelenskyy, demonstrated promising dynamics, potentially leading to the use of domestically produced missiles, reducing dependence on Russian weapons.
- In an effort to expand Ukraine's self-sufficient rocket program, as expressed by Zelenskyy, there is a strategy to increase the range of its missiles, allowing for potential strikes against deep-lying Russian military targets.
- Russia, with its current advantages in long-range missile capabilities, continues to be a source of conflict for Ukraine, as international regulations limit Ukraine's use of Western weapons for attacks on distant Russian targets.
