The Ukrainian defense industry is striking with a new achievement: the drone-missile "Palyanytsia" aimed at Russian military facilities. According to Forbes, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the first combat use of this new long-range weapon, which he called a "missile drone."
"Palyanytsia" is not just another drone; this is Ukraine's strategic response to Russia's escalating drone and long-range missile attacks. Zelenskyy emphasized that the new weapon aims to protect Ukraine by destroying Russian planes on the ground before they can take off and carry out their attacks. This approach, known as "kill the archer, not the arrow," has become a key element of Ukraine's air defense strategy.
According to the data, on August 22, "Palyanytsia" carried out an attack on Marynivka air base, destroying and damaging several bombers. Satellite images confirm serious damage to the base, which proves the effectiveness of the new drone.
"Palyanytsia" has the potential to hit more than 20 Russian air bases, which makes it an important component of the Ukrainian defense strategy. It is known that the maximum range of the drone is about 600 km, which is less than that of some other Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, but still impressive.
Although the exact details about the size and speed of the "Palyanytsia" remain classified, it is reported that its engine is turbojet. This has sparked debate over whether the Palyanytsa should be classified as a missile or a drone, as there are examples of rocket-powered drones such as Raytheon's latest version of the Coyote.
The Minister of Strategic Industries of Ukraine, Oleksandr Kamyshyn, confirmed that the new weapon is "both a drone and a missile", stressing the lack of clear definitions in this area.
