Zelenskiy showcases new drone, labels Putin a 'sick old man'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced the development of a new Ukrainian "drone missile" on Saturday, asserting that it would shift the conflict back into Russian territory. During his statement, Zelenskiy ridiculed Russian President Vladimir Putin, describing him as a “sick old man from Red Square.”

As Ukraine celebrated 33 years of post-Soviet independence, Zelenskiy introduced the newly developed weapon, named Palianytsia, which he claimed was faster and more powerful than the drones Ukraine has previously used against Russia. These earlier drones have already been employed to target Russian oil refineries and military airfields.

“Our enemy will soon understand what Ukrainian retaliation truly means—worthy, symmetrical, and long-ranged,” Zelenskiy declared. He confirmed the new weapon had successfully struck a target in Russia, though he refrained from providing details about its location.

In his video address via the Telegram messaging app, Zelenskiy used mocking language to describe the 71-year-old Russian president and criticised Moscow’s nuclear rhetoric. “A sick old man from Red Square who constantly threatens everyone with the red button will not impose his red lines on us,” he asserted.

Since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has bombarded the country with thousands of missiles and drones. In response, Moscow has labelled Ukraine's retaliatory drone attacks as acts of terrorism. Currently, Russian forces continue to advance in eastern Ukraine, occupying around 18% of the country.

Zelenskiy has been urging Kyiv’s Western allies to grant permission to use advanced weaponry deeper into Russian territory. His focus includes striking Russian airbases that launch airstrikes on Ukraine. He said, “I want to emphasise once again that our new weapon, including Palianytsia, is our practical approach, while some of our partners continue to delay their decisions.”

The name Palianytsia, which refers to a traditional type of Ukrainian bread, holds cultural significance in the war. Ukrainians often use it to distinguish themselves from Russians, as the word is notoriously difficult for Russians to pronounce. Zelenskiy added, “It will be very difficult for Russia—not just to defend itself, but even to pronounce the name of what struck them.”

Top commander promoted

In a separate development, Zelenskiy promoted Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, the top military commander, to the rank of general. This promotion appears to recognise Syrskyi’s role in Ukraine’s daring cross-border incursion into Russia’s Kursk region, which was launched on August 6.

Ukraine’s operation in Kursk has been described as its largest invasion of Russian territory since World War II, with Kyiv claiming to have captured over 90 settlements. While Russia has denounced this as a provocative escalation, Zelenskiy defended the operation, explaining it was a preventative measure designed to thwart Russian plans to seize the northern Ukrainian city of Sumy.

At a joint news conference alongside the leaders of Poland and Lithuania, Zelenskiy revealed that the operation also involved capturing prisoners of war and establishing a “buffer zone.” However, he noted there were additional objectives that he could not disclose publicly.

Polish President Andrzej Duda confirmed that the PT-91 Twardy tanks, supplied by Poland to Ukraine over a year ago, were actively engaged in the fighting in the Kursk region. Duda expressed pride in seeing the Polish tanks defend Ukraine on the battlefield.

Russia has strongly condemned the use of Western weapons in Ukraine's operations within Russian territory, with Putin vowing a “worthy response” to the incursion.

Independence Day and heightened tensions

Independence Day has taken on even greater significance for Ukrainians amidst the ongoing invasion, which has sparked a surge in patriotic fervour. This year, the holiday was marked under the shadow of warnings from the U.S. and German embassies about the increased likelihood of Russian missile and drone attacks across Ukraine.

As of 2200 local time, no major strikes had been reported, but air raid sirens sounded at least twice in Kyiv during the afternoon and evening.

In addition to the military developments, Zelenskiy ratified the Rome Statute on Independence Day, signalling Ukraine's intent to join the International Criminal Court. This move is part of Ukraine's broader efforts to gain accession to the European Union, a goal that Kyiv considers a top priority.

Zelenskiy also enacted legislation banning religious groups with ties to Russia, providing a legal framework to prohibit a branch of the Orthodox Church that is viewed as pro-Russian.

In a positive development amidst the ongoing conflict, both Ukraine and Russia announced the successful exchange of 115 prisoners of war. Russia’s Defence Ministry confirmed that the freed Russian servicemen had been captured during Ukraine’s operations in the Kursk region.

Zelenskiy’s unveiling of the Palianytsia drone missile and his continued defiance against Russian aggression underscore Ukraine’s determination to resist and reclaim its territory, even as the war drags on. The Ukrainian president remains resolute in his commitment to securing greater support from Western allies while advancing Ukraine’s national and international objectives.