Ukraine Races for Its Own Missiles as Zelensky Sets 2026–27 Domestic Breakthrough Target

Ukraine is racing to develop its own ballistic missiles while advancing a European anti-ballistic defense system, with President Volodymyr Zelensky setting a target of concrete results by the turn of 2026–2027. The push comes as Russia intensifies ballistic attacks on the Ukrainian cities. Seventeen people were killed and 51 injured in Kyiv and the surrounding region on Wednesday during Russia’s third large-scale missile-and-drone attack on the area in less than a week. Ukraine intercepted 98 attack drones during the barrage but failed to shoot down any of the 28 missiles Russia launched.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The mounting casualties have sharpened Kyiv’s urgency to secure more Western interceptors while developing a domestic answer to Russia’s expanding ballistic threat. “Our FREYJA program — a joint European anti-ballistic system — is already actively underway,” Zelensky announced in his Thursday evening address. The initiative is intended to give Ukraine an anti-ballistic capability possessed by only a small group of countries. “Few countries in the world have built such an anti-ballistic project for themselves. Ukraine must join this circle of states. All the necessary conditions for this have been created,” Zelensky stressed. Other countries spent decades developing comparable systems, according to the president, while Ukraine must compress that timeline dramatically. Other Topics of Interest Zelensky to make first trip to Serbia since Russian invasion: Ukraine official Zelensky to make first trip to Serbia since Russian invasion: Ukraine official “Ukraine must do this as quickly as possible, so that already by the turn of 2026–27 there are concrete results,” the Ukrainian leader stated. At the same time, Ukraine is working to develop its own ballistic missiles. “The tests have shown good prospects. We need to turn this into a real weapon,” Zelensky noted. Ukraine mobilizes state institutions for missile push The National Security and Defense Council, Ukraine’s intelligence agencies, prime minister, Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry, Air Force and Brave1 defense technology cluster are all involved in the effort. “The United States knows exactly what we need,” Zelensky stated. “And none of this is about something abstract. This is about our lives. These are specific, real people. We need air defense. Political decisions are needed for this.” Kyiv is pressing for those decisions from the US, European governments and other international partners. Zelensky also described ongoing coordination with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, aimed at synchronizing Ukraine’s diplomatic activity and contacts with other partners. Kyiv demands sanctions squeeze on Russian ballistic production Alongside the drive for more air defenses and domestic missile production, Zelensky called for international sanctions loopholes that continue to feed Russia’s ballistic missile industry to be closed. The proposed pressure would target companies and individuals involved in Russian ballistic missile production as well as networks importing critical foreign components. “Unfortunately, the sanctions lists of many countries still have gaps,” Zelensky warned. “It is unacceptable that even now Russian industry, which works to kill, has access to global jurisdictions,” Zelensky said. “This must be blocked.” Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.