Ukraine unveiled a new domestically-made missile drone in early December that is expected to significantly enhance the country’s ability to carry out airstrikes against targets deep inside Russia. Dubbed “Peklo” (“Hell” in Ukrainian), this new addition to the Ukrainian arsenal has a claimed range of 700 kilometers (430 miles) and can reach speeds of up to 700 kilometers (430 miles) per hour.
In a social media post showing off the weapons, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the first batch of Peklo missile drones had already been delivered to the Ukrainian military and had proven their combat effectiveness. “Now the task is to scale up production and deployment,” he commented.
The Peklo is one of many long-range weapons currently being developed by Ukraine as the country seeks to improve its ability to strike targets inside Russia. Speaking in Kyiv on December 10, Zelensky announced that serial production of the long-range missile drone Palyanitsa had begun, while testing of the new Ruta missile was ongoing.
Meanwhile, a long-range version of the domestically produced Ukrainian Neptune cruise missile is expected to enter service in the near future. The Neptune is currently best known as the weapon used to sink Russia’s Black Sea Fleet flagship Moskva in the early months of the Russian invasion in spring 2022.
In addition to these developments, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense recently announced plans to deliver more than 30,000 long-range attack drones by 2025, with production partly financed by international partners. Since early 2024, Ukraine has been conducting a major air offensive against Russia’s energy industry and military infrastructure using long-range drones. With domestic production now reaching record levels, a sharp escalation in Ukrainian attacks is likely next year.
Ukraine’s efforts to expand domestic production of long-range weapons reflect widespread frustration in Kyiv with the restrictions imposed by the country’s Western partners on attacks inside Russia. For much of the war, Western leaders prevented Ukraine from launching retaliatory strikes against Russian targets for fear of possible retaliation from the Kremlin. This allowed Russia to attack Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure with impunity, while Ukraine was forced to effectively defend itself with one hand tied behind its back.
The United States and other partners have recently relaxed these restrictions and allowed some categories of Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory using Western weapons. However, a number of restrictions are believed to remain in place. The missiles provided to Ukraine by the country’s Western allies also have a relatively modest maximum range of 300 kilometers, making them of limited use against a country as vast as Russia.
Many in Kyiv believe that an expanded long-range arsenal is necessary to ensure a viable peace with Russia. Proponents of increased long-range strikes argue that if Ukraine cannot carry Putin’s invasion home, the Kremlin dictator will have little incentive to seek a settlement. They believe that missile attacks could weaken Russia’s military capabilities and defund Putin’s war machine by targeting oil refineries and other elements of the country’s economically important but highly vulnerable energy sector.
Zelensky has repeatedly emphasized the importance of being able to strike targets deep inside Russia, and has frequently pressed Ukraine’s allies to provide more long-range weapons. His recently unveiled victory plan reportedly included one confidential segment proposing the delivery of U.S. Tomahawk missiles with a range of nearly 2,500 kilometers as part of a “non-nuclear deterrence package.” While the request has been widely dismissed as unrealistic, it underscored the importance officials in Kyiv place on long-range strike capabilities as Ukrainian policymakers seek tools to secure a lasting peace.
The recent surge in production of drones and long-range missiles comes as Ukraine tries to revive the country’s long-neglected defense industry and reduce its reliance on military aid. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion nearly three years ago, Ukraine has managed to significantly increase domestic production in areas ranging from armored vehicles and artillery shells to electronic warfare equipment and naval drones. Much of this has been financed by Ukraine’s partners, who have been encouraged to place orders with Ukrainian manufacturers.
As talk turns to the possibility of a peace deal when Donald Trump returns to the White House in January 2025, the Ukrainians are taking nothing for granted as they prepare for the fourth year of Europe’s biggest war since World War II. They hope that by strengthening their ability to strike back inside Russia, they can increase the pressure on Vladimir Putin and strengthen their own hand ahead of any negotiations.
Peter Dickinson is editor of the Atlantic Council's UkraineAlert service.
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