Ukraine will need several years to develop its own missiles capable of intercepting Russian ballistic missiles, as the country lacks the necessary technology and experience in producing such weapons, according to Roman Kostenko, secretary of the Ukrainian parliament’s Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence and an SBU colonel.

Kostenko challenged claims that domestically produced anti-ballistic missiles could become available within weeks, arguing that Ukraine does not possess the industrial and technological foundation required for their rapid development.

He explained that effective ballistic missile interception requires sophisticated guidance systems and powerful radar equipment capable of detecting and tracking high-speed targets. Ukraine does not manufacture the necessary radar systems, creating a major obstacle to developing its own missile defense capabilities.

The lawmaker also pointed to the absence of an established domestic engineering tradition in this field. According to Kostenko, even during the Soviet era, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic did not manufacture surface-to-air missiles specifically designed to intercept ballistic targets.

Although aviation missiles were developed and produced in Soviet Ukraine, the country did not have a comparable industrial base for anti-ballistic surface-to-air weapons.

As a result, Ukrainian engineers must develop the required technologies virtually from scratch, including the guidance and radar components essential for such systems.

Kostenko questioned why public statements continue to suggest that Ukraine could obtain domestically manufactured ballistic missile interceptors within days or two to three weeks.

He suggested that such announcements could be part of an information and psychological operation, although he did not identify who might be responsible.

The Ukrainian parliamentarian maintained that developing effective anti-ballistic missiles is an exceptionally complex undertaking that will take years rather than weeks.