Ukraine has made a breakthrough in its weapons developement. The new, domestically produced Sapsan ballistic missile has completed successful tests and is now headed for mass production, says Valentin Badrak, director of the Center for Army, Conversion and Disarmament Studies, LIGA.net reports. 

“The first successful test of Ukraine’s first ballistic missile took place in July 2024,” Badrak confirms.

Ballistic missiles are notoriously hard to intercept due to their parabolic trajectory, a tactical advantage confirmed by battlefield experience.

“Even the older American ATACMS missiles have proven this in combat, as the enemy failed to intercept them,” the expert adds. 

In May 2025, Sapsan saw its first combat use, and it was an immediate success. The missile struck a Russian military target approximately 300 km away with high precision.

The Ministry of Defense has now greenlit full-scale production, and according to Badrak, “there are no obstacles remaining for this step.”

Beyond its speed, Sapsan boasts a powerful warhead of 480 kg, more than double the explosive payload of the standard US ATACMS – 227 kg.

“It’s clear Ukraine is moving toward missile force buildup — and this matters not only for today’s defense, but for securing the nation’s long-term future,” Badrak concludes. 

Earlier, Mykola Shcherbakov, commander of a State Border Guard Sea Guard vessel, said the war in Ukraine is bringing revolutionary changes to modern military strategy. After Ukrainian soldiers destroyed Russia’s Black Sea Fleet flagship, the Moskva cruiser, it became clear: the era of large warships is over

On 27 May, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry announced that the United Kingdom will allocate funding from the ERA (Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration) initiative to support Ukraine’s military needs. Under this agreement, Ukraine is set to receive $3 billion over 2025–2026. The funds originate from excess profits generated by frozen Russian assets.

The Ministry reported that the agreement was signed by First Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Serhii Boiev and Deputy Minister of Strategic Industries of Ukraine Davyd Aloian. Representing the United Kingdom, Major General Anna-Lee Reilly, Director Strategic Capability, Engagement and Operations at the UK Ministry of Defence, signed the agreement.

Funding targets defense procurement and repairs

Ukraine’s Defense Ministry detailed that the funding will be used for:

• Procurement of defense products manufactured abroad;
• Repair and maintenance of military equipment;
• Joint projects between Ukrainian and international defense companies;
• Procurement of critically essential materials, including items made in Ukraine.

According to Boiev, the use of Russian-origin profits for defense purposes is “not only valuable in practical terms, but also as a matter of principle.” He stated:

“The use of excess profits from Russian assets to reinforce Ukraine’s defense is a just response to aggression and an acknowledgement of Ukraine’s right to self-defense.”

Ukraine seeks to unlock production potential

Deputy Minister Davyd Aloian emphasized the importance of the funding in activating domestic capacity:

“Ukrainian enterprises have a production capacity of $35 billion, but insufficient funding prevents their full utilization. Therefore, leveraging excess profits generated from frozen Russian assets will significantly boost the production and repair capacities of Ukraine’s defense industry.”

The Ukrainian side thanked the United Kingdom for providing the financial support and for backing Ukraine’s armament production efforts.