By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Ukraine has begun utilizing its domestically produced Sapsan ballistic missile in combat against Russia, as confirmed by President Zelenskyy. Details regarding the number of missiles deployed and their targets remain undisclosed, with the intent of maintaining strategic ambiguity. The Sapsan, with a potential range of up to 500 km and a Mach 5.2 speed, represents a significant advancement in Ukraine’s military capabilities. The system mirrors Russia’s Iskander-M and offers Ukraine its own long-range missile capability.
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Zelenskyy Confirms Ukraine Is Now Firing Its New Sapsan Homegrown Ballistic Missile Against Russia. This is a pretty significant development, right? While we don’t have all the details – like specific targets or the number of missiles being used – the mere fact that President Zelenskyy has announced the deployment of this new, domestically-produced ballistic missile, the Sapsan, against Russia, is a pretty clear signal. It signifies a major upgrade in Ukraine’s ability to strike at a distance.
The beauty of this is the strategic flexibility it gives Ukraine. Imagine having a combined arsenal of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones. That’s a powerful toolkit. The hope is that Ukraine has the production capacity to keep up the pressure. It’s absolutely critical they can sustain this, because this war is far from over.
From what little information is available about the Sapsan, it appears the range might not be exceptionally long, but its speed and payload capacity seem quite promising. If they can produce these in significant numbers, it has the potential to create a substantial buffer zone within Russia’s territory. It’s hard to overstate the importance of this.
This is particularly good news because it allows Ukraine to expand its targeting options. They’re no longer entirely reliant on approvals from their allies to use Western-supplied weapons, offering them more autonomy in their actions, a huge strategic win. This is a game changer for Ukraine. They have control over how they fight, which is incredibly important in a war of this nature.
Speaking of speed, with a ballistic missile like the Sapsan, you’re talking about hitting a target within minutes. Think of it: a mile a second or even faster! It’s that initial burst of power that gets it going, then it’s a nearly unstoppable force. The speed alone is terrifying and can catch the enemy completely off guard.
However, I imagine that even with this new capability, Ukraine would still be hesitant about striking civilian targets within Russia. While they no longer need explicit permission, the political ramifications, particularly with the US, could be significant. They still rely heavily on US intelligence and arms, and they certainly wouldn’t want to jeopardize that relationship. The US support is invaluable, and losing access to their resources is something they cannot risk.
It’s also worth noting the fundamental difference between a ballistic missile and a cruise missile, because it’s a crucial aspect of understanding this development. Ballistic missiles like the Sapsan are only powered during their initial boost phase. After that, they follow a ballistic trajectory, essentially an unpowered arc, like a bullet or a football. They can even reach outside the atmosphere. These missiles are incredibly fast, reaching terminal velocities several times the speed of sound, making them exceedingly difficult to defend against.
Cruise missiles, on the other hand, are like miniature airplanes. They are powered throughout their entire flight, navigating within the atmosphere and capable of course corrections along the way. They can fly low to the ground to evade radar detection, which makes them harder to spot. However, because they are not as fast as a ballistic missile, they are also more vulnerable to being shot down once they are detected.
Ultimately, the best way to understand the difference is this: a ballistic missile is like throwing something up in the air really hard. A cruise missile is like a mini airplane. They serve different strategic purposes. Ballistic missiles excel at delivering payloads over long distances at incredible speeds, while cruise missiles offer greater precision and stealth capabilities.
Speaking of allies, the support from Europe is absolutely critical. Ukraine desperately needs continued and expanded support. Without it, pushing Russia back will be a monumental challenge. It’s a tragic situation, heroic in its struggle, and they need everything they can get. This is a critical moment.