Zelenskyy says Ukraine carried out its first test of a new weapon, its first ballistic missile

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife Olena attend a service in Saint Sophia Cathedral during a celebration of the Ukrainian Independence Day in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Aug. 24.

Ukraine successfully tested its first domestically produced ballistic missile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed on Tuesday.

“Since we’re on the subject, I thought it might be too soon to talk about it, but I want the public to appreciate the work of our people who are working 24/7 in the defense industry — there was a first successful test of Ukraine’s first ballistic missile,” Zelenskyy said at the Ukraine 2024 Independence Forum in Kyiv.

Zelenskyy did not provide additional details about the test or the missile, but the development of a ballistic missile marks a significant milestone for Ukraine. It’s unclear what stage of development the weapon is in or when it could be used against Russia.

News of the missile test comes as Ukraine continues to be hamstrung in its ability to use Western missiles. The US, for instance, has provided Ukraine with tactical ballistic missiles — specifically MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems, also known as ATACMS — but has prohibited Kyiv from using these weapons to strike targets beyond its borders.

Ukrainian officials have long been trying to convince the US and other Western countries to drop the restrictions on how Kyiv uses the weapons, arguing that this is holding the country back and preventing it from effectively fighting the Russians, who routinely fire missiles into Ukraine, targeting its cities and critical infrastructure.

Zelenskyy’s comments on the missile test, which were published by UNITED24, a Ukrainian government initiative that has fueled Kyiv’s war efforts through fundraising initiatives, came amid a broader discussion about other homemade weapons.

Ukraine has produced a wide variety of homemade weapons throughout the war, including naval drones and anti-ship missiles. It has also repurposed those missiles for land attack.

And over the weekend, Ukraine unveiled a new long-range drone in combat that it said could put dozens of Russian military airfields in range.

“The Palianytsia missile just came out recently, and it’s a very serious thing. There were some issues, but that’s been resolved,” the Ukrainian president said at Tuesday’s forum. “This is a vital defense for our state.”

His remarks came a day after Russia carried out its largest attack on Ukraine of the war, which Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said underscores the need for more long-range weaponry.

“This once again proves that for victory we need long-range capabilities and the lifting of restrictions on strikes on the enemy’s military facilities,” he wrote on Facebook. “Ukraine is preparing its answers. Weapons of own production.”