Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, by ordering an attack on the Dnipro plant "Pivdenmash", not only tried to demonstrate strength, but also betrayed his own fears. It is becoming more and more obvious that Ukraine is getting closer to creating its own ballistic missile.
"Pivdenmash" is a legendary enterprise that, even in the times of the USSR, produced missiles capable of destroying any city on the planet. One of these developments, the intercontinental missile R-36, even received the nickname "Satan" from the Americans. In modern Ukraine, the plant remains the heart of rocket engineering, even if its former scale is only a shadow of the Soviet past.
Despite this, Pivdenmash has a key advantage — an infrastructure designed to withstand even a nuclear strike. Residents of Dnipro joke that the plant was hidden underground so reliably that "Oreshnik" only scratched it.
In the development of the Grim-2 ballistic missile, Ukraine concentrated not only scientific, but also intellectual potential. The project, which is based on previous developments, in particular "Sapsani", could become a breakthrough in deterring Russia. The declared range is up to 500 km, which makes the Kremlin a completely achievable goal.
Oleksiy Petrov, director of "Spetstechnoexport", noted that the Armed Forces may receive both cruise and ballistic missiles next year. This confirms that the work is carried out at different levels - both by state enterprises and private ones.
In addition to ballistic missiles, Ukraine is betting on drones. Defense Minister Rustem Umyerov has already announced plans to create 30,000 long-range drones capable of reaching Moscow.
The strategy of combining strike drones and missiles will allow to overcome Russian air defense, which currently continues to be a significant obstacle for mass attacks.
Critics question whether a country under constant fire can produce ballistic missiles in large quantities. After all, their production is a complex and expensive process that requires huge resources.
However, the intellectual potential and ingenuity of Ukrainians give hope that even a small number of missiles can change the course of the war. As Professor Vasyl Shevtsov aptly said, each species has its own unique traits for survival. Hares have long legs, foxes have big ears. And Ukrainians have intelligence.
What's next?
Against the background of Russian fears and attempts to stop the Ukrainian missile program, one thing is obvious: the development of "Grim-2" and attack drones is not only a military, but also a political necessity. These systems will be key in the formation of a new deterrence system that will allow Ukraine not only to defend itself, but also to dictate its own conditions on the battlefield.
