President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky presented today a new, developed in the country, a jet-powered drone that he says could take the war to Russian territory. At the same time, he contemptuously mocked Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “sick old man from Red Square”, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
While Ukraine marks 33 years of independence, Zelensky said that the new “Palyanytsia“ (a type of traditional Ukrainian bread made of wheat flour – ed.) is faster and more powerful than the previously domestically produced weapons that Kiev is currently using in the fight against Russia, hitting oil refineries and military airfields.
„The enemy will know what the Ukrainian way of response is - significant, symmetrical and far-reaching”, the president said. He added that the new Ukrainian weapon has already been used to successfully strike a target in Russia, but did not specify where.
As DPA adds, Zelensky did not want to present details, citing reasons related to security.
At the same time, he used tongue-in-cheek language to describe Russia's 71-year-old president, as well as the nuclear rhetoric coming from Moscow.
„The sick old man from Red Square, who constantly threatens everyone with the red button, will not dictate his red lines to us”, Zelensky said in a video posted on the social network “Telegram”.
Russia, which has attacked Ukraine with thousands of missiles and drones since the start of its invasion of the neighboring country on February 24, 2022, has condemned the Ukrainian drone strikes as terrorism. Its forces currently occupy about 18% of the neighboring country's territory.
Zelensky is insisting that Kiev's allies allow him to use Western weapons deep inside Russian territory, such as hitting military airfields used by Russian air forces shelling Ukraine with missiles and cluster bombs.
„I want to emphasize again that the decisions regarding our new weapons, including the “Palyanytsia”, are the realistic way to act, while some of our partners, unfortunately, are delaying the decisions”, Zelensky said during a press conference.
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During the war, Ukrainians sometimes use the word “Palyanytsia”, which is difficult for Russians to pronounce, to distinguish their own from foreign ones.
„It will be difficult for Russia to even say what exactly hit it,” Zelensky said.
Lithuania plans to provide Ukraine with a new package of military aid as Kiev tries to fend off the Russian invasion, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonite said, quoted by DPA and BTA.
Shimonet made this statement at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Polish President Andrzej Duda in Kyiv, UNIAN news agency reported.
„Lithuania's position is well known and categorical: Ukraine must win and Russia must lose,” the Prime Minister declared.
In the fall, Kyiv will receive from Lithuania about 5,000 drones. In addition to ammunition and weapons, air defense systems, missiles and anti-drone equipment are expected to be delivered before that, by early September.
Shimoni also announced that Lithuania is providing 35 million euros for the purchase of radar and mine detection equipment.
The value of the new military aid was not disclosed.
Lithuania is among the staunchest supporters of Ukraine. Until May of this year alone, Lithuania provided Kyiv with military aid worth around 640 million euros.