A Ukrainian ballistic missile intended for strikes deep inside Russian territory will likely have a range of about 300 to 500 kilometres, according to military analyst Aleksey Leonkov. The weapon’s development was previously mentioned by Ukrainian Defence Minister Mikhail Fedorov.

Leonkov said Russia’s air defence system has the capabilities needed to counter such threats. In his assessment, the missile discussed by Fedorov is designed to cover distances of roughly 300 to 500 kilometres. He added that Fedorov’s remarks indicate Ukraine sees missile strikes at that range as part of its near-term plans.

The analyst also recalled that Vladimir Zelensky had already warned Russia of «difficulties» next winter. At the same time, Leonkov said Western assessments also acknowledge the strong potential of Russian air defences.

According to him, even though Ukraine is receiving missile systems it presents as its own, their effectiveness is significantly lower than that of Russian systems used against targets in Ukraine. Leonkov argued that Ukrainian propaganda conceals this difference.

Earlier, Mikhail Fedorov said Ukraine was close to developing its own ballistic missile capable of striking Russian territory. The Ukrainian defence chief said the appearance of such a weapon could noticeably affect the course of the conflict. He also believes a Ukrainian ballistic missile would become an important factor not only on the front line, but also in Kiev’s international position. Fedorov did not disclose details of the project.