Story perspectives

Ukraine expects domestically made ballistic missiles to hit Russia

8/17/2026

Center

Ukraine Fielding Missiles

Ukraine announced it expects to field domestically produced ballistic missiles capable of striking Russia within three to six months.
The effort is underscored by Ukraine possessing only about 1% of needed Patriot interceptor missiles, prompting U.S. Pentagon talks on cooperation.
Former defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov told CBS Ukraine expects first ballistic missile launch by year-end.
Fire Point began testing a ballistic missile model in June to counter Russian long-range attacks.

Left

Ukraine Escalates

Ukraine announced it will produce ballistic missiles that can strike Russia within months.
Thousands protested former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov’s dismissal on August 16, calling it a test of democracy.
Fedorov was removed in July after a clash with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.
Russian missile attacks on August 15 killed workers at ArcelorMittal’s Kryvyi Rih plant.
EU policy chief Kaja Kallas said the autumn sanctions will add one-third more Russian entities.

Blindspot

Thousands of Ukrainians protested the dismissal of former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, viewing it as a test of Ukraine’s democratic values.
Thousands of Ukrainians marched in Kyiv on August 16 demanding his reinstatement after the dismissal.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Left-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Center-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

In 1991 Ukraine took over the Dnipro-based Yuzhmash (Pivdenmash) plant, the Soviet ICBM hub that once produced the R-36 and could build up to 120 missiles a year. After perestroika shifted output to civilian goods, a 2006 tally showed Ukrainian launch vehicles supplied 12 % of world space launches, and Russian cuts in 2015 plus 2022 missile strikes have reignited calls to restore Ukraine’s ballistic-missile capacity.

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Ukraine Fielding Missiles

Ukraine announced it expects to field domestically produced ballistic missiles capable of striking Russia within three to six months.
The effort is underscored by Ukraine possessing only about 1% of needed Patriot interceptor missiles, prompting U.S. Pentagon talks on cooperation.
Former defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov told CBS Ukraine expects first ballistic missile launch by year-end.
Fire Point began testing a ballistic missile model in June to counter Russian long-range attacks.

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