Danilov: Zelenskyy's missile programme has not stopped for a single day
Kateryna Tyshchenko - Thursday, 14 April 2022, 22:45
Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council (RNBO) Oleksiy Danilov states that Ukraine's missile programme under President Volodymyr Zelenskyy "has not stopped for a single day."
Source: Oleksiy Danilov on Facebook
Quote: "In the light of the well-known ‘Moscow flagship’ events, a few words should be said about our missile programme, because it turns out that too many people from the past have been involved with ‘Vilkhas’ (heavy multiple-launch rocket system - ed.) and ‘Neptunes’ (missile - ed.) , and there has not been so much truth about the present. And the truth is that without the will of President Zelenskyy, we would not have weapons that can deliver a ‘warm’ welcome to the Rashists (Russian army - ed.), and not just to the ‘Russian warship’.
Our missile programme has not stopped for one day. Some people make out that after 2019, ‘everything’s gone’ and this is an absolute lie."
Details: As Danilov notes, back in early July 2019, Zelenskyy set objectives for the development of the Missile and Armament Programme for the period up to 2030.
As part of the programme, research was completed on the key "Vilkha" heavy multiple-launch rocket system and "Neptune" missile projects. Their range was increased, and "Vilkha" and "Neptune" were accepted into service. A unified model of cooperation between the producers of these projects has been formed and the creation of additional production facilities was launched.
"During 2019 and 2020, the ‘Luch’ Design Bureau conducted successful missile tests of the modernised ‘Vilkha - M’ rocket system with extended range at an Odesa test site. And in April 2020, a surface-to-air cruise missile system - the now famous "Neptune" - was tested at the ‘Alibei’ test site. As a result, all surface targets were hit," said the Secretary of the RNBO.
He also listed other decisions, measures and test results related to the missile programme.
"Therefore, behind every military success there is much painstaking work," Oleksiy Danilov concluded.
Background:
- On the evening of 13 April, "Ukrainska Pravda" sources and the Head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration reported that Ukrainian "Neptune" anti-ship missiles hit the missile cruiser "Moskva" of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
- On 14 April, the Russian Ministry of Defence confirmed that the "Moskva" missile cruiser had caught fire, but the causes of the fire had not been reported - allegedly "the ammunition detonated’ for some reason.
- Former RNBO Secretary, Oleksandr Turchynov who was in charge of Ukraine's missile program in 2015-2019, explained that the project that developed and manufactured "Neptune" missile had been implemented by "Luch" Design Bureau in an unrealistically short time with minimal funding during the military confrontation with Russia. At the same time, he said that the latest projects were suspended after 2019, expressing hope that all suspended missile programmes will be resumed "and our cruise missiles will find their targets in the Moscow Kremlin as well."
During 2020-2021, experts and analysts repeatedly criticised the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Strategic Industries for the lack of transparency and inefficiency in the implementation of the state defence order.
