Poroshenko: Ukraine soon to acquire missiles with 1000 km range
Ukraine has begun testing high-precision cruise missiles with a flight range in excess of 1,000 km and a 150 kg warhead, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said in an episode of “Freedom of Speech” on ICTV.
“We have started the most important cruise missile tests… We now have a missile that has successfully passed the tests and which can shoot more than 1,000 km and can carry a 150 kg warhead. It is high-precision, and all of this was created by Ukrainian specialists. The Armed Forces of Ukraine are now learning how to use them,” observed the Ukrainian head of state.
“We have acquired the capability to destroy any ship in a radius of 300 km that dares to approach and attack us, and a small or medium class ship will not withstand this missile. This is a drastic enhancement of our defensive capabilities,” Poroshenko added.
The president pointed out that, in the past, Kyiv disposed of its cruise missiles with nuclear warheads, probably referring to the Budapest Memorandum of 5 December 1994. In the document, Russia, the UK and the US undertook to guarantee Ukraine’s territorial integrity, and in exchange Ukraine had to give up its nuclear weapons.
Poroshenko also noted that the Vilkha-M missile system is in its final testing phase.
“The ‘Smerch’ and ‘Urahan’ [rockets] we have today fly no further than 65-70 km, and now they will fly 130 km and with high precision,” Poroshenko said.
Several days ago, Poroshenko attended the final testing stage of the Neptune cruise missile, which is designed to be used by Ukraine’s Navy.