Ukraine’s aims to produce long-range missiles and drones “are today a reality” after previously being in the realms of science fiction, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in Kiev on Tuesday as he honoured Ukrainian scientists.
He highlighted the Palianytsia jet-powered drone, which is reported to have been deployed for the first time in August. “The Palianytsia has gone into mass production,” Zelensky said.
He added that the Peklo missile-drone hybrid had conducted its first combat mission successfully. The Ukrainian army officially took the first delivery last week of these devices with a range of 700 kilometres.
Zelensky also referred to successful tests of the Ruta missile. No details are as yet available.
And he also mentioned the Neptune long-range missile that was used in April 2022 to sink Russia’s Moskva cruiser on the Black Sea in April 2022, saying that it would soon become a “terrible reality for the Russian occupiers.” The missile has undergone further development.
Deaths in Russian missile attack on Zaporizhzhya
At least two people have been killed and 17 injured in a Russian missile attack on the south-eastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhya, regional Governor Ivan Fedorov announced on Tuesday.
The attack was carried out in the city centre, Fedorov wrote on Telegram.
According to a Ukrainian public radio report, a private hospital was damaged in the strike. Up to eight victims are still feared to be under the rubble.
The report said that the Russian military had used ballistic missiles in the attack.
Initially, there had been reports of three fatalities, but one victim was able to be revived.
Ukraine has been defending itself against a full-scale Russian invasion for more than two and a half years
Zaporizhzhya is located close to the front line between Russian and Ukrainian troops.
Drone hits IAEA vehicle near Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant
A vehicle belonging to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was severely damaged in a drone attack on the road to Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant on Tuesday, IAEA head Rafael Grossi said.
The IAEA has experts stationed permanently at the Russian-occupied power plant, which is close to the front line, to monitor the situation.
The teams are regularly replaced. The drone attack occurred during the latest rotation.
“As director general of the IAEA, I condemn in the most firm terms this attack on the IAEA staff,” Grossi said in a video statement posted on X.
“Attacking a nuclear power plant is a no-go. Attacking those who care for the nuclear safety and security of these plants is even more unacceptable,” Grossi added, calling for “utmost restraint.”
Russia launched a series of attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure at the end of November. The IAEA warned that this jeopardized the security of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, whose cooling systems depend on a reliable power supply.
The IAEA board of governors plans to hold an exceptional meeting on Thursday.
