Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday introduced new "Peklo" drone-missiles being manufactured in a Ukrainian factory, the first batch of which, he said, already has been delivered to the nation's armed forces.
In footage released by his office, Zelenskyy could be seen touring the factory in an undisclosed location alongside Ukraine Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and other officials.
In a post to his X social media account, Zelenskyy said the hybrid drone-missile "Peklo" — which means "hell" in Ukrainian — has a range of 700 kilometers and a speed of 700 kph. He said it already has proved its combat effectiveness.
Ukrainian officials said the drones are cost-effective and are comparable to some Russian-made cruise missiles in terms of performance.
"It is crucial that our defenders receive such modern, Ukrainian-made weaponry," Zelenskyy said in the recording. "Now the task is to continue ramping up its production and deployment."
Friday was Ukraine's Armed Services Day, and Zelenskyy delivered an address to members of the military. "Respect. Gratitude. Honor. This is what our people feel when it comes to you. When our people hear about you, see you, see how you destroy the enemy, his missiles, his drones, his bases, his arrogance," the president said.
When Russia launched its war against Ukraine, Zelenskyy said that at that time Ukraine "had no HIMARS, no Patriots, no F-16s, and so much else was missing. But we had you. Ukrainian warriors ... you hold the line of freedom ... because of you, everyone holds on, Ukraine holds on. Thanks to you, Ukrainian warrior."
On Thursday, Ukraine's Defense Ministry announced plans to supply their armed forces with more than 30,000 long-range attack drones in 2025, with funding supplied by international partners. In a statement, the ministry said the drones operate autonomously and can strike enemy targets with high precision.
The ministry made those arrangements considering U.S. President Joe Biden's term is winding down and the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump presents uncertainty. Trump has voiced skepticism about continued support and said he would resolve the war before his January 20 inauguration, but did not say how.
A U.S. National Security Council spokesperson in a background briefing told reporters that national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian president's office, at the White House for meetings Thursday to discuss the future of U.S. support for Ukraine.
The spokesperson said the meeting lasted more than an hour with Sullivan focused on Biden's theory that improving Ukraine's position in its war against Russia would allow Ukraine to enter any future negotiating process from a position of strength.
The spokesperson said Sullivan and Yermak discussed the four-part U.S. strategic support for Ukraine, which involves increased military assistance and economic pressure on Russia through sanctions, addressing Ukraine's manpower challenges, and sustaining support for Ukraine's economy.
To implement the strategy, the spokesperson noted the U.S. will provide Ukraine's military with hundreds of thousands of additional artillery rounds, thousands of additional rockets, and hundreds of additional armored vehicles between now and January.
They also pointed to the sweeping set of U.S.-imposed sanctions on Russia's financial sector, and that more sanctions would follow in the coming weeks, all designed to make it more difficult for Russia to sustain its war against Ukraine.
Sullivan and Yermak reportedly discussed a U.S. offer to prepare any newly mobilized soldiers at training sites outside of Ukraine.
And to help sustain Ukraine's economy in the months ahead, the spokesperson said the U.S. is finalizing the $20 billion Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration loan agreement between the governments, backed by the profits of immobilized Russian sovereign assets.
The NSC spokesperson said the strategy is designed to improve Ukraine's position in the war for the coming year and lay the foundation for a negotiated settlement "that provides for an independent, sovereign, and democratic Ukraine."
Mykhailo Komadovsky of VOA's Russian Service contributed to this report.
