For months, Ukraine has been asking its allies for permission to strike Russian territory with Western-supplied long-range missiles, but allies mostly said no. Now, Kyiv says it has its own weapon that’s just as good. The Palianytsia, created by Ukraine’s growing defense industry, is meant to provide answers to waves of Russian bombings and missile strikes, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov promised on Monday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it “a new class” of weapon and suggested it can strike deep inside Russia. This comes after Russian missiles and drones targeted Ukraine’s electrical infrastructure in a recent attack, killing at least five people. Zelenskyy confirmed the existence of the Palianytsia on Saturday and said it was used in a strike on a Russian military installation in occupied territory. The new weapon, along with Ukraine’s successful incursion into Russia’s Kursk region, puts Kyiv in a strong position to end the war through dialogue. The Palianytsia was developed under intense secrecy. Its name comes from a type of Ukrainian bread and a word used to identify suspected Russian spies early in the war. Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian defense ministry have revealed little information about the new weapon, but it is believed to have long-range capabilities to hit Russian targets. Ukraine has faced difficulties using long-range weapons, leading to deadly consequences. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi said Russia has launched many long-range missiles at Ukraine, with only a quarter being shot down. Over half of the Russian targets were civilian. Ukraine has resorted to drone attacks into Russia as a response. The full-range ATACMS provided by the U.S. has limitations on where it can be used, frustrating Ukraine and its allies. The Palianytsia missile, costing less than US$1 million each, is expected to be a game-changer in reaching Russian targets unexpectedly. Russia has warned against loosening the restrictions on long-range weapons, while Ukraine sees its new weapon as a way to limit collateral damage and escalate the war.
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