Ukraine has developed a new long-range drone missile, named “Palyanytsia” after a Ukrainian bread, capable of striking Russian military airfields deep within enemy territory, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced on August 22.

The missile-drone, developed over just 1.5 years, marks an advance in Ukraine’s military capabilities as the nation seeks to counter Russian air assaults. Zelenskiy revealed that the weapon’s range puts dozens of Russian military airfields within reach.

Zelenskiy’s announcement, made on Facebook, came after the successful first combat use of the Palyanytsia. “Over the past two and a half years of war, Russia has launched approximately 10,000 missiles and more than 33,000 bombs at Ukraine. The only way to stop these attacks is to strike at the carriers of this weaponry – the Russian aircraft at military airfields,” he said.

The President emphasised that Palyanytsia was independently developed by Ukrainian engineers to diminish Russia’s offensive potential. He also noted that Ukraine has been ramping up the production of these missiles, alongside its arsenal of long-range strike drones, which have shown their efficacy on the battlefield.

In a video accompanying the announcement, Zelenskiy underscored that the most effective way to counter Russian missile strikes is to target the airfields from which these attacks originate. However, Ukraine's Western allies have not yet permitted Kyiv to use their weapons for such operations, compelling Ukraine to innovate its domestic military capabilities.

The Palyanytsia missile-drone is launched from a ground platform and features a turbojet engine. While most details about the missile remain classified, it is known to be cost-effective compared to similar systems, with ongoing efforts to further reduce costs and increase production.

“The mission of the Palyanytsia is to protect our civilian population by neutralising the enemy’s offensive capabilities – and to do so on their own territory,” the video stated.

Zelenskiy had earlier revealed that Ukrainian forces successfully deployed the Palyanytsia missile-drone against Russian forces for the first time on Ukraine’s Independence Day, August 24.

The development of the Palyanytsia comes as Ukraine continues to advocate for permission to use Western-supplied long-range weapons to strike targets within Russia, a move that Kyiv believes could pressure Moscow into negotiations.

In his Independence Day address, Zelenskiy stressed that Ukraine’s new weapons, including the Palyanytsia, provide the country with a real means of action, especially as international partners hesitate on decision-making.

Kyiv has long argued that targeting military sites within Russia, including those near Moscow, could demonstrate to the Kremlin the threat posed by Ukraine’s growing military capabilities and potentially lead to negotiations. However, the U.S. and other Western allies have so far been reluctant to grant such permissions, concerned about escalating the conflict.