Ukraine unveils new rocket-drone on independence day, Zelensky says

Today, for the first time, a completely new weapon, the Ukrainian rocket-drone system "Paljanica," was used, announced Volodymyr Zelensky on Ukraine's Independence Day. He emphasized that "it is difficult to counteract it, but very easy to understand why."

On 24 August, during the Saturday ceremonies for Ukraine's Independence Day, Volodymyr Zelensky stated that today, Ukrainian forces for the first time targeted enemy troops with a new long-range drone.

- This is our new method of retaliating against the aggressor. The enemy was hit. Thank you to everyone who made this possible. All the developers, manufacturers, and our soldiers. I am proud of you, Zelensky said during his speech, quoted by the Ukrainska Pravda portal.

The rocket-drone system, produced indigenously by Ukraine and gracefully named "Paljanica" (like the traditional Ukrainian wheat flour bread, which symbolizes hospitality and happiness), is a military innovation. During the official ceremonies, Zelensky stressed that it is a weapon of a "completely new class". He emphasized that "it is difficult to counteract it, but very easy to understand why."

The work on the rocket-drone was carried out in secrecy. It is also officially unknown where Ukraine's new weapon was used for the first time. Nevertheless, on Saturday night, Ukrainian forces struck a Russian ammunition depot at the Russian Tank Training Centre in Ostrogozhsk, in the Voronezh Oblast. There was an explosion and fire. 200 people were evacuated.

In a video statement recorded for Ukraine's Independence Day, Zelensky also warned Moscow that Ukraine will soon be able to attack "any point" of the Russian Federation that is a "source of threat" to his country.