NATO chief visits secret Ukrainian missile development site

The Chairman of NATO's Military Committee, Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, visited a classified facility in Ukraine. At this Ukrainian site, the "Peklo," described as a drone-missile, is being developed from scratch. This is a modern achievement of the Ukrainian defence industry, capable of conducting strikes up to 700 kilometres at a speed of 700 km/h.

The "Piekło" missile was first publicly presented in December 2024 when Zelensky delivered the first batch to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Since then, the missile has proved its effectiveness in combat, destroying key Russian military and infrastructure targets, according to Defence Blog. According to Ukrainian claims, "Peklo" is resistant to Russian electronic warfare systems. This means that "Peklo" can address one of the biggest problems of the modern battlefield, where electronic warfare weapons effectively hinder both sides' strikes.

The production of "Peklo" missiles is possible thanks to NATO financial support. As stated, the production programme of these missile-drones is a key element of Ukraine's strategy to counter Russian military dominance. In recent months, Ukraine has effectively attacked Russian refineries and oil depots, disrupting the Kremlin's energy sector. This forces Moscow to increase its spending on air defence.

Defence Blog adds that the "Peklo" missile emphasises Ukraine's growing self-sufficiency in defence production. The visit of the NATO delegation highlights the alliance's interest in Ukrainian technological achievements and their potential contribution to European defence capabilities.

It is also worth mentioning that besides the "Peklo" missile, Ukrainians also showcased to NATO the production line of "Lutyi" drones. This is another weapon that weighs over 200 kilograms and is capable of carrying payloads weighing 75 kilograms up to a distance of 1,000 kilometres. "Lutyi" is therefore used by Ukrainians to strike deep into the territory of the Russian Federation.