Ukraine has struck Russia with a deadly new type of rocket-drone weapon as President Zelensky claims thy will soon be able to hit any target within Russia.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the deployment of the secretive and devastating Palyanytsia drone as the country celebrates Ukrainian Independence Day.
It is believed the drone hit a target within Russian-occupied territory – possibly Crimea – but the target has not been specified by Zelensky.
Separately, Ukraine today struck an ammunition warehouse inside Russian territory, in the border region of Voronezh.
Zelensky vowed that Ukraine would soon be able to reach ‘any point in the Russian Federation that is a source of danger to the life of our state or our people’.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the deployment of the secretive and devastating Palyanytsia drone as the country celebrates Ukrainian Independence Day. It is believed the drone hit a target within Russian-occupied territory
Little is known about the Palyanytsia, which has been developed by Ukraine during the war apparently as a means of striking deep into Russia at high speed. Images purport to show the rocket-drone, but its final shape remains unclear
A Russian pro-war Telegram channel Zhivov Z showed pictures of alleged debris of an alleged Ukrainian weapon implying this may be the Palyanytsia
Separately, Ukraine today struck an ammunition warehouse inside Russian territory, in the border region of Voronezh
This came as Vladimir Putin was seen holding an emergency meeting with his top military commanders including Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov.
The start of the session was muted for security reasons, and it came after a succession of war setbacks including the humiliating Ukrainian incursion deep into Kursk region.
And today saw an exchange of long-term PoWs – 115 on each site.
‘Today was the first successful combat use of our new weapon,’ said Zelensky in his televised message marking independence day revealing use of the new weapon.
‘A completely new class of Ukrainian rocket-drone, Palyanytsia – this is our new method of retaliation against the aggressor.
‘The enemy was defeated.
‘I thank everyone who made this possible, all the developers, manufacturers and our soldiers.
‘I am proud of you! And we know that it will be very difficult for Russia.
‘It’s hard to even say what has arrived It is difficult to counteract, but still very easy to understand why.’
Vladimir Putin was seen holding an emergency meeting with his top military commanders including Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov
Zelensky said during a televised message: ‘A completely new class of Ukrainian rocket-drone, Palyanytsia – this is our new method of retaliation against the aggressor. The enemy was defeated’
Released Ukrainian prisoners of war. Today saw an exchange of long-term PoWs – 115 on each site
Today also marks two and a half years since Putin started the war on 24 February 2022.
Alexander Kamyshin, Kyiv’s minister of strategic industries, said:
‘Ukraine shapes the future of defence tech.
‘We have mortar drones, artillery drones, and now, we introduce a completely new class of weapon — rocket drones.’
He appeared to indicate that the attack was not known visible hit in Voronezh region by saying: ‘The rocket drone Palyanytsia was successfully used today, striking a military target in temporarily occupied territory.’
Yet a Russian pro-war Telegram channel Zhivov Z suggested the devastation in Voronezh region may have been caused by the new rocket-drone, also called by some sources a missile-drone.
The channel showed pictures of alleged debris of an alleged Ukrainian weapon implying this may be the Palyanytsia.
‘The enemy began using the Palyanytsia drone-rocket against targets on Russian territory,’ reported Zhivov Z.
‘It was probably the fragments from this drone that hit the object with explosive materials which led to numerous explosions.’
Zelensky also warned Russia: ‘Our enemy will know what the Ukrainian way of retaliation is….
‘They will know that, sooner or later, a Ukrainian response will reach any point in the Russian federation that is a source of danger to the life of our state or our people…..
‘And the one who wanted to turn our land into a buffer zone should think about preventing his country from becoming a buffer federation.’
Ukraine is marking the country’s Independence Day. Today is also two and a half years since Putin started the war on 24 February 2022
Little is known about the Palyanytsia, which has been developed by Ukraine during the war apparently as a means of striking deep into Russia at high speed.
Images purport to show the rocket-drone, but its final shape remains unclear.
It is named after a type of Ukrainian bread, round loaf and dense.
A rocket-drone generally suggests a UAV propelled by rocket engines or carrying rockets as its primary weapon.
It may use rocket propulsion, for higher speeds or longer distances, making it harder to shoot down.
The drone itself could be a rocket-powered platform designed to deliver a payload.
Missile-drones may be able to loiter over an area, gather intelligence, and choose the optimal moment to strike.
In the strike on the military warehouse in Ostrogozhsk district there were repeated explosions and a major blaze.
Regional governor Aleksandr Gusev admitted ‘detonation of explosive objects’ and claimed the ignition came from the falling debris from a drone hit by Russian air defences.
Russian channels confirmed that an ammunition warehouse had been struck and shells were exploding in the sky.