Is it a missile? Is it a drone? What’s the Pelican used by Ukraine? | Russia-Ukraine war News
Ukrainian President Confirms Use of New Weaponry in Recent Strike on Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that a significant strike on Russia on Sunday involved various weapon systems, including the previously unreported “Pelican.” In a social media post, Zelenskyy claimed the long-range attacks had a “very significant impact” on targets in Moscow’s region.
He detailed that the assault successfully hit critical facilities, including a major oil industry site and a logistics center, both vital to sustaining Russia’s military efforts. “These are billions of dollars that sustain the war machine,” Zelenskyy stated. The systems deployed included FP-1, RZ-100, MICH-2000, Palianytsia, Vendetta, Liutyi, Bars, Flamingo, Sichen, and the Pelican.
The strike coincided with the final day of voting in Russia’s parliamentary elections and reportedly resulted in at least three fatalities. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said authorities intercepted over 1,600 drones, 450 of which were directed toward the capital.
The introduction of the Pelican has drawn interest from military analysts, who are attempting to clarify whether it is a tactical ballistic missile or a type of drone.
Understanding the Pelican Missile
During the 34th International Defence Industry Exhibition in Poland last week, the CEO of Ukrainian defense firm Fire Point mentioned that Ukraine could deploy its FP-7 tactical ballistic missile within weeks. This missile is designed to strike targets up to 200 kilometers (125 miles) away, carrying a warhead weighing up to 150 kilograms.
The FP-7, which is ground-launched and possesses a maximum speed of 1,500 meters per second, was characterized by Fire Point’s chief designer Denys Shtilerman as being more cost-effective than the U.S.-manufactured Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS). Zelenskyy noted last month the expectation to utilize domestically produced ballistic missiles soon.
While connections between the FP-7 and the Pelican have emerged in Ukrainian media, official confirmation linking the two has not been released. Additionally, reports from The New Voice of Ukraine indicated that Fire Point applied to register the Pelican trademark. The RBC-Ukraine news agency, referencing unnamed sources, described the Pelican as an aircraft-type drone without further details.
Ukraine’s Military Manufacturing Growth
Ukraine’s defense ministry reported unprecedented growth in the domestic weapons industry, stating production capacity has increased by 50 times to reach $50 billion. “Domestic manufacturers now meet over half of the Defence Forces’ needs for weapons and military equipment,” the ministry noted.
Zelenskyy highlighted on Saturday that military counterintelligence had successfully deployed a new interceptor drone against Iranian-made Shahed drones used frequently by Russia. “Step by step, we are moving forward to give Ukraine greater protection,” he remarked.
In February, former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, stated that over 70 percent of Shahed-type attack drones had been intercepted using these new systems, generating interest from Gulf states facing similar threats.
Evolving Attacks on Russian Infrastructure
Both Russia and Ukraine have recently escalated attacks targeting each other’s infrastructure, focusing on oil facilities and logistical centers. Since July, Ukraine has also repeatedly targeted warehouses associated with Russia’s Wildberries e-commerce platform, aiming to disrupt the supply chain and undermine the Russian economy.
On Monday, the Financial Times reported that U.S. President Joe Biden had a conversation with Zelenskyy, expressing concerns about attacks on Russian refineries potentially worsening global diesel shortages and rising fuel prices.
