Ukrainian president reveals the Fire Point project is the closest to producing a ballistic missile, while reporting on a week of massive Russian strikes and successful Ukrainian attacks on Russian air defense deep in the rear.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that the "Fire Point" project is the closest to producing a Ukrainian ballistic missile, with potential use against Russia as early as this autumn. This ambitious announcement is accompanied by a warning that increased production could be hampered by dependence on foreign components and the West's reluctance to create a new arms competitor, as reported by the Slavyangrad Telegram channel.
Zelensky also noted that Europe lacks an air defense system capable of intercepting ballistic missiles. On the Russian side, military correspondent Kotenok warned that Ukrainian attacks on Moscow would provoke a serious response against Kyiv, including government districts. He criticized Russia for not preemptively destroying decision-making centers and called for a first strike to prevent launches, questioning why key infrastructure, such as bridges over the Dnipro, remains untouched after five years of war.
Meanwhile, Zelensky shared alarming figures on his Twitter profile about the intensity of Russian attacks over the past week. "Just this week, the Russians used 61 missiles of various types, more than 1,560 strike drones, and 1,540 aerial bombs against Ukraine," he wrote. Of the total missiles, as many as 56 were fired on a ballistic trajectory. "Russia continues to bet on ballistic terror... Every such attack on human life serves as a constant reminder, we need more pressure, more sanctions against Russia, and more air defense for Ukraine," Zelensky said.
The president detailed the consequences of attacks on several Ukrainian cities. In Odesa and the region, repairs are underway to restore power supply after a brutal strike on the energy sector. Residential buildings and the port were damaged, and eight people were injured. "This is, in particular, how Russia systematically wages war against global food security," Zelensky stated. In Kharkiv, a direct drone strike destroyed four floors of a residential building, killing two people and injuring dozens. In Pavlohrad, nine people were injured, including four children, in an attack near a shopping center and on energy infrastructure. Russian attacks also hit Zhytomyr, Mykolaiv, Kyiv, Kherson, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk regions.
While Russia intensifies attacks, Ukrainian unmanned systems forces conducted a precise strike deep in the Russian rear. According to commander Robert "Madjar" Brovdi, on the night of August 9, 2026, a position of the Russian S-400 "Triumf" air defense system in Gelendzhik, Krasnodar Krai, was hit. This system, according to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), had carried out six missile launches against Ukraine the previous day, August 8, from 09:25 to 12:51. After the Ukrainian drone strike, the position burned for about three hours, Brovdi claimed.
In the same night, Ukrainian forces reported the destruction of four more elements of Russian air defense on Russian territory: a "Tor" system and radar stations "Podlet-K1" and "Kasta 2E2" in the Rostov region, and a "Pantsir-S1" system in the area of Yeysk. According to earlier information, Brovdi also reported hitting three Russian ships in the Black Sea, including an oil tanker and two dry cargo vessels, but did not specify the extent of their damage.
In the broader context of the war, on August 8, 2026, Zelensky spoke about the presence of North Korean personnel on Russian territory. "At first we talked about hundreds, then thousands, and now a decision has been made to deploy 30,000 to 50,000 North Koreans on Russian territory. They are studying this war," he stated. He also confirmed that North Korean missiles have already been found on Ukrainian territory and that North Korea, in addition to experience, will receive licenses and "all kinds of military tools" from Russia. Considering this a threat to the wider Asia-Pacific region, Zelensky called on the Republic of Korea to cooperate more closely with Ukraine, especially in the areas of air defense systems and drones, despite legal restrictions in the South Korean constitution.
Zelensky also analyzed the internal situation in Russia, asserting that President Vladimir Putin "still cannot find a victory in this war." He claimed that Putin is considering covert mass mobilization, "shadowy contracts," and closing borders. "He needs to sell a victory. He will not have a victory in Ukraine. He needs to take Donbas. We will not retreat on our own," Zelensky said, adding that Putin will "twist the conditions from Anchorage" discussed with the American side to create the illusion of success.
