On August 24, Ukraine unveiled a groundbreaking new weapon, a long-range drone missile named “Palianytsia,” after a traditional Ukrainian bread. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy introduced the Palianytsia during a state address, marking it as a significant leap in Ukraine’s efforts to combat Russian aggression. The domestically developed drone was completed in less than 18 months and made its combat debut on Ukraine’s Independence Day.
The Palianytsia drone has been designed to strike Russian military installations, particularly airfields, from within Ukrainian territory. Though technical specifics remain undisclosed, 3D renderings and reports indicate that the drone features turbojet engines and is launched from ground-based launchers. It is estimated that it can target up to two dozen military locations in Russia and costs less than conventional long-range missiles.
“In two and a half years of full-scale war, Russia has launched 10,000 missiles and over 33,000 glide bombs at Ukraine. Stopping these attacks can be achieved by targeting the carriers of these weapons—Russian aircraft stationed at military airfields,” Zelenskyy stated on Facebook. He confirmed that the drone’s first combat use occurred on August 24, successfully hitting its intended target and demonstrating Ukraine’s growing capacity to retaliate.
The Palianytsia is part of a broader initiative to boost Ukraine’s domestic drone development, which includes grants for private companies, increased funding for state design bureaus, and the deregulation of the industry. This comes after Ukraine became the first nation to establish a dedicated drone force in its military.
As Ukraine continues to make advances in the Kursk region of Russia, the Palianytsia’s impact both literal and figurative on the conflict remains to be seen. “Russia will find it difficult to counter this new threat,” Zelenskyy remarked. “But it will be very easy to understand why.”
