Zelensky Issues Update on New Missile Test as ‘Hell’ Fired on Russia

President Volodymyr Zelensky has issued an update on the latest test of a new missile called Ruta and the combat deployment of a missile-drone called Peklo, which means “hell” in Ukrainian.

During his speech at the 2024 Borys Paton National Prize of Ukraine Award Ceremony on December 10, Zelensky discussed recent Ukrainian weapons developments.

“The missile-drone Peklo has successfully completed its first combat deployment, and just days ago, we delivered the first batch to our defense forces. The new Ruta missile is undergoing successful trials,” he said.

The testing of the Ruta missile is only one part of Ukraine’s recent weapons developments, which come amid escalating tensions in the Russia-Ukraine war. In August, Zelensky said Ukraine had conducted its first successful test of a domestically developed ballistic missile, but he did not provide further details about the weapon.

He also said at the time that Kyiv could produce 1.5 to 2 million drones this year but did not have enough funding.

In his speech, Zelensky did not provide further details about the Ruta or the Peklo. Newsweek has contacted the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine for comment via email.

The Ruta missile, developed by the privately held European aerospace company Destinus, was previously on display at the Ukrainian stand at Eurosatory 2024, the news outlet Militarnyi reported.

The missile is a “combination of low cost, payload size and speed, which makes it ideal for multiple missions,” with booster-assisted takeoff and landing achieved through parachutes and airbags, Destinus said on its website.

In addition to conducting strikes, the Ruta’s functions include intelligence gathering, fast-response surveillance, fast disaster and emergency response, emergency cargo supply, and target training.

Destinus, which was founded in Switzerland in 2021, is run by Mikhail Kokorich, a former Russian national who has renounced his citizenship. The company’s headquarters are in the Netherlands.

With a flight range of 300 kilometers (186 miles), the Ruta missile has been described as a “UAV with a jet engine,” the Defense Express reported.

In his speech, the Ukrainian president also noted that the Palianytsia missile had entered serial production. Ukraine’s drones—including “the reconnaissance drone Hor, the night bombers Vampire and Heavy Shot, the FPV drones Kolibri and Kamik, the FPV planes Darts”—have also been actively used.

The Peklo missile drone can fly 700 km and reach speeds of 700 kph, Reuters reported. The missile, produced by the Ukrainian manufacturer Ukroboronprom, has been successfully deployed five times, Forces News reported.

The awards ceremony, Zelensky said, honored 91 scientists from 12 Ukrainian research teams whose works “directly strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities, enhance the resilience and efficiency of the state, reinforce it, and serve the well-being of our people.”