No more “red lines”: long-range weapons go to Ukraine, and Ukrainian ballistics dictate new rules of war
9 June 2025 17:59
ANALYSIS FROM 
Recently, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that there are no longer any restrictions on the range of weapons to be provided to Ukraine. This includes the Anglo-French Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles (up to 300 km) and the German TAURUS missiles (up to 500 km). This decision opens up new opportunities for the Armed Forces in the context of targeted strikes on the enemy’s rear infrastructure. Ukrainian ballistics opens up even more horizons: when will the missile fly to the place where the war came from? What are Thunder-2, Vilkha and the modernized Neptune and why are Russian generals more afraid of them than Storm Shadow? What targets can already be destroyed in the enemy’s deep rear – all this in the article
Ukraine not only receives weapons from partners. Creating and modernizing its own means of destruction is one of the key strategic goals of the state.
Ukraine’s response: “Thunder-2”, “Vilkha”, “Neptune”
Military analyst in a commentary for
“Ukrainian weapons are no longer just an alternative to Western weapons – they are confidently superior in range and effectiveness. “Grem-2, modernized Neptune and S-200 – all these developments deliver precise strikes on Russian infrastructure,” said Dmitry Snegirev.
“Grom-2 is an operational and tactical missile system developed by Yuzhnoye SDO, which is already being compared to the Russian Iskander. Its warhead weighs up to 480 kg and has a realistic range of up to 500 km. This is enough to strike the enemy’s rear logistics even outside the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
The tactical and technical characteristics of the Grom-2 are comparable to the German TAURUS, but are superior to the American ATACMS, whose range is only 300 km. “This makes the Ukrainian air defense system not just competitive, but critically important in our defense strategy,” emphasizes Dmytro Snegiryov.
“Vilkha” – Ukrainian accuracy born from “Smerch”
Another achievement of the Ukrainian defense industry is the modernized Vilkha system, which is based on the Soviet Smerch. All components are domestic: from the warhead to the control system.
It is important to understand: “Vilkha” is not just a missile, it is a full-fledged Ukrainian-made missile system. It is capable of providing fire control over the rear positions of the occupiers, including the territory of the Russian Federation. This is the very long-range guarantee of our security,” Snegiryov said.
S-200: the second life of a Soviet legacy
Ukrainian engineers have also modernized old Soviet S-200 anti-aircraft missile systems, turning them into means of defeating ground targets.
The S-200 has been transformed from a Soviet complex into an effective strike weapon. Probably, the modernized guidance system, warhead and engine have made it capable of hitting ground targets at a distance of up to 300 km,” notes Dmitry Snegirev.
“Russian sources have already admitted this: “The Russian General Staff has been tasked with destroying these modernized systems. This is the best evidence of their effectiveness.
A step towards strategic weapons: Ukrainian ballistic missile
In August 2024, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the successful test of Ukraine’s first ballistic missile. In May 2025, the president set a goal to accelerate its serial production.
Ukraine is approaching a new level of technology. Our own ballistic missile is not just a breakthrough, it is a strategic lever. War must be felt where it comes from. And it is the long-range capability that allows us to ensure this,” emphasizes Dmytro Snegiryov.
Thus, Ukraine is rapidly turning into a state capable of ensuring its own strategic security. Ukraine’s own weapons, which are already superior to their Western counterparts, are not only a response to aggression, but also a significant contribution to the stability of Europe’s eastern flank. Snegirev summarizes that our long-range capability is a clear and effective guarantee of Ukraine’s security.
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