The Ukrainian army in mid-May successfully conducted a combat test of a new ballistic missile that destroyed a Russian command post at a distance of about 300 km. This was stated by military expert Valentyn Badrak, emphasizing the effectiveness of the new weapon model.
The Ukrainian army in mid-May successfully conducted a combat test of a new ballistic missile that destroyed a Russian command post at a distance of about 300 km. This was stated by military expert Valentyn Badrak, emphasizing the effectiveness of the new weapon model.
On the air of Espresso, the director of the Center for Army Research, Conversion and Disarmament, Valentyn Badrak, said that the missile, developed within the framework of the updated missile program, showed combat effectiveness in real conditions. The tests were not training: the missile hit the target — the command post of the occupiers.
According to the expert, a key moment in the development of the project was the personnel renewal in the Ministry of Defense — in particular, the appointment of General Klochko, who has been overseeing the program since July 2024. A separate department was created within the structure of the Ministry of Defense to coordinate the development of missile systems. This allowed to synchronize the efforts of the defense department and the Ministry of Strategic Industries, which previously, according to the expert, had slowed down the process.
The missile that passed the test has a warhead weighing over 400 kg. For comparison, Badrak recalled that the latest American missiles have warheads four times lighter — about 91 kg. Thus, the Ukrainian model is one of the most powerful in its class.
Ukraine has been actively working on creating its own ballistic weapons since 2022, against the backdrop of limited supplies of long-range weapons from partners. The idea of building up strategic missile potential is part of the general doctrine of deterrence and a response to daily strikes by the Russian Federation. The successful combat use of the new missile testifies not only to a technological breakthrough, but also to Ukraine’s ability to independently form an asymmetric response to threats.
Currently, according to the expert, the system is moving into mass production. Although the number of units that the defense industry can produce monthly or annually is not announced, a rapid increase in pace is expected.
We previously wrote about the first Ukrainian laser weapon, capable of destroying ballistic missiles at a distance of up to 3 km, and airplanes and helicopters at a distance of up to 5 km. The Unmanned Systems Forces presented the work of the Ukrainian laser complex «Tryzub».
