Volodymyr Zelensky, in office since 2019, takes on the difficult role of leading a nation whose existence is continually threatened by the actions of its Russian neighbor. For two and a half years, Ukraine has been defending itself against the aggression of Vladimir Putin’s army, an eternity that has transformed the former actor. Zelensky has swapped his suits for a khaki t-shirt and a beard has gradually invaded his once-hairless cheeks. His schedule is now punctuated by international meetings, during which he never ceases to plead the cause of his country. The Ukrainian president has also understood the importance of communication in this 21st century conflict, becoming the main spokesperson for the Ukrainian cause. It was quite natural that he took it upon himself to reveal the commissioning of a new weapon, Ukrainian-made and capable of striking deep into enemy territory.
Until now, the Western powers have limited Ukraine’s use of the missiles they supply it. In May, they had nevertheless resolved to authorize Zelensky’s army to target Belgorod – located 30 kilometers from the border – and its surroundings. In fact, the possibilities of reaching deep into Vladimir Putin’s military-industrial complex remain limited. But the beginnings of a solution are emerging for Ukraine. Its name: “Palianytsia”. In French, it means “little bread”. It refers to the new cruise missile made in Ukraine. The name is a snub to Russian speakers because it is difficult for them to pronounce. Its arrival on the battlefield, announced on social networks by Volodymyr Zelensky, was made on Sunday, August 25. However, no official communication mentions the results of his operation.
On X (formerly Twitter), there are videos of what the Ukrainian president calls a “rocket drone.” It is a jet-powered machine with a pair of wings attached to it. According to the president, it was developed “to destroy the offensive potential” of the enemy. In a video shared with the announcement of the arrival of the palyanitsia, kyiv explains that its strategy is to strike Russian airfields from which the approximately 43,000 bombs, missiles and other drones that have struck Ukrainian territory since the beginning of the conflict are launched. With the arrival of this drone, Ukraine assures that it has within firing range “two dozen Russian airfields.”
A nascent arms industry
“The physical presence of our forces in the Kursk region,” as well as the strikes carried out on Russian soil, “are means of compensating [notre] lack of long-range capabilities,” justified on Xon August 26, President Zelensky. The next day, Ukraine further strengthened its range of action by announcing – once again through its leader – “the successful test” of a ballistic missile, also of Ukrainian manufacture. By equipping themselves with ballistic missiles, the Ukrainians are giving themselves “a greater capacity to carry the military load” than a drone, General Dominique Trinquand explained to L’Express. “Where with a drone you can carry 40 kilograms of load, with a missile you can go up to 100,” he estimates.
Therefore, there is no need to be so precise. “With 40 kilograms of payload, you have to fall less than ten meters from your target,” explains the former head of the French military mission to the UN. “Especially since the Russians are more successful in jamming the guidance of drones,” continues the military expert. In addition, ballistic missiles “fly higher and faster than drones,” which makes them more difficult to intercept. Regarding the question of guidance, General Trinquand believes that this is a technology on which Ukrainian manufacturers could have worked jointly with the West.
Volodymyr Zelensky took advantage of the announcement of this successful test to “congratulate his arms industry,” reports AFP. Moreover, the ability to create a model like that of the palyanitsia, in a year and a half, is quite a feat. “Usually, this kind of project takes at least two years to see the light of day,” assures an engineer who worked on the project in an interview published on United 24the donation platform managed by the Ukrainian government. General Trinquand also points out that Ukraine is a country historically “with many engineers” and that, during the time of the Soviet Union, “20% of its arsenal came from Ukraine.”