Additional Coverage:
- Ukraine says it used its new long-range ‘Palianytsia’ rocket drone for the first time as it targets air bases deep inside Russia (newsbreak.com)
Ukraine has deployed a new long-range rocket-drone hybrid, named “Palianytsia,” designed to strike deep within Russian territory, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The weapon reportedly made its first effective combat use this past Saturday. President Zelenskyy publicized the event through a video on the X social platform, courtesy of the government-supported United24 initiative, stating that the “Palianytsia” targets Russian military aircraft stationed within Russia.
The weapon, equipped with a turbojet engine and launched from a ground-based platform, could potentially reach targets up to 400 miles away such as the Savasleyka and Soltsy air bases in the regions of Nizhny Novgorod and Novgorod respectively. The president highlighted that approximately 24 Russian airfields lie within reach of this new weapon. Zelenskyy emphasized that targeting these locations is crucial to halting the ongoing assaults on Ukrainian cities, referencing the substantial number of missiles and bombs Russia has deployed against Ukraine since the conflict escalated.
While the specifics of “Palianytsia”‘s capabilities remain largely undisclosed, its introduction is timely, enhancing Ukraine’s ability to strike at extended ranges, particularly as Western restrictions prevent the use of Western-supplied arms for attacks deep inside Russia. Despite these limitations, Ukraine continues to innovate with domestically produced, cost-efficient drones for long-range assaults, challenging Russian air defenses and augmenting their strategic counteroffensive efforts.
In light of these developments, the effectiveness of Western missiles like the Storm Shadow or ATACMS may be decreasing as Russia relocates critical aircraft out of these weapons’ range. The Institute for the Study of War has noted such strategic adjustments by Russia, confirming the redeployment of aircraft to locations beyond the reach of Western-provided weaponry.
This advancement in Ukrainian military capability underscores a strategic shift as they continue their counteroffensive into Russian-held territories such as Kursk, aiming to weaken Russian air power and disrupt their operational stability.