Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced in a video address that Ukraine is working to develop its own ballistic missiles, with initial testing showing good prospects.
Zelenskyy emphasized that the nation must turn these developments into operational weapons. He said all state structures are involved, including the National Security and Defense Council, intelligence services, the prime minister, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, the Air Force, and the Brave1 defense cluster.
Zelenskyy identified Russian strikes as the primary challenge facing Ukraine. He stated that Ukrainian diplomats, government officials, and defense leaders must locate available PAC-2 and PAC-3 Patriot missiles and other air defense munitions worldwide. He added that direct negotiations and new agreements are required, assuring that all planned steps will be implemented.
The FREYJA program
The president reported that the FREYJA program is actively underway with ten participating countries and additional partners preparing to join. Leading European companies are participating in the Anti-Ballistic Coalition. Under the arrangement, Ukraine will manufacture the missiles and launchers, while international partners will supply components such as radars and sensors.
Zelenskyy noted that a large-scale anti-ballistic program will benefit all of Europe. He said Ukraine is creating conditions to quickly join the small group of nations with indigenous anti-ballistic capabilities, aiming to deliver concrete results at the turn of 2026 and 2027.
Air defense negotiations
Addressing immediate defense needs, Zelenskyy said the United States knows exactly what air defense support Ukraine requires, which depends on political decisions across Europe and the G7. He noted daily coordination efforts, including talks with the prime minister of Norway on the day of the address, following discussions with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and the president of Finland the previous day.
The push for air defense comes amid intensified Russian attacks. Ukrainian news agency UNIAN reported that military expert Ivan Stupak noted nearly 130 ballistic missiles struck Ukraine last month, calculating that 300 missiles requested from the United States would last two and a half to three months. Additionally, Yuriy Ihnat, head of communications for the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reported in late July that Russian forces have increased their use of ballistic missiles in air attacks.
