President Volodymyr Zelensky showcased a newly developed Ukrainian "drone missile" on Saturday, which he claimed would bring the conflict back to Russian soil and mockingly referred to Russia's Vladimir Putin as a "sick old man from Red Square". As Ukraine celebrated 33 years of post-Soviet independence, Zelensky highlighted that the new weapon, named Palianytsia, was faster and more potent than the locally produced drones previously utilized by Kyiv to retaliate against Russia, targeting its oil refineries and military airfields.
"Our adversary will... understand the Ukrainian approach to retribution. It is deserving, balanced, and long-range," he stated. Zelensky revealed that this new category of Ukrainian armament had successfully hit a target within Russia, though he did not specify the location. He used derogatory terms to characterize the 71-year-old Russian president and the nuclear threats emanating from Moscow.
"A sick old man from Red Square who incessantly threatens everyone with the red button will not impose any of his red lines on us," he said in a video shared on the Telegram messaging app. Russia, which has launched numerous missile and drone attacks on Ukraine since its invasion in February 2022, has condemned Ukraine's drone strikes as acts of terrorism. Russian forces are making advances in eastern Ukraine and currently control 18 percent of the country.
Zelensky has been urging Kyiv's allies to permit the use of Western weapons on deeper Russian territory, such as airbases used by Russian warplanes that bombard Ukraine with missiles and glide bombs. "I want to emphasize once again that our new weapon decisions, including Palianytsia, are our practical means of action while some of our partners are regrettably postponing their decisions," Zelensky said during a press conference. Ukrainians believe that the term "Palianytsia", a type of Ukrainian bread, is too challenging for Russians to pronounce and has been used—sometimes humorously—during the war to distinguish between Ukrainians and Russians.
"It will be extremely difficult for Russia, even challenging to articulate what exactly has struck it," Zelensky commented on the drone missile. In a decree, Zelensky promoted his top commander, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, to the rank of general, a silent acknowledgment of his commendable performance after Ukraine's swift cross-border operation into Russia's Kursk region on August 6.
Condemned by Russia as an escalation and significant provocation, Ukraine's operation has reportedly taken control of over 90 settlements in the Kursk region according to Kyiv, marking the most substantial attack on Russia since World War II. At a joint press conference with leaders from Poland and Lithuania, Zelensky informed reporters that the operation was partly preventive to thwart Russian plans to seize the northern city of Sumy. Besides capturing prisoners of war and establishing a "buffer zone", Zelensky mentioned that the operation had additional objectives that he could not reveal publicly.
Polish President Andrzej Duda confirmed that Polish PT-91 Twardy tanks, donated to Kyiv by Warsaw, were participating in the conflict in the Kursk region. "We are moved to see how the PT-91 Twardy tanks, given by Poland (to Ukraine) more than a year ago, are defending Ukraine today on the battlefields, fighting in the Kursk region," he said. Russia has vehemently criticized the use of Western weapons for the incursion, with Putin stating that it will elicit a "worthy response".
Independence Day has gained significant importance for Ukrainians amidst the invasion, which has ignited widespread patriotic fervor. This year, the public holiday occurred following warnings from the US and German embassies about an increased risk of Russian missile and drone attacks across the country. Despite no major strikes by 2200 local time, air raid sirens sounded at least twice in Kyiv during the afternoon and evening. To commemorate the occasion, Zelensky ratified the Rome Statute, facilitating Ukraine's accession to the International Criminal Court, one of several steps required to join the European Union, which Kyiv prioritizes.
He also enacted legislation prohibiting the activities of religious groups affiliated with Russia, providing the government with a legal tool to ban a branch of the Orthodox Church perceived as linked to Russia. Ukraine and Russia also announced the release of 115 prisoners of war each in an exchange. The Russian Defense Ministry stated that its freed servicemen had been captured during Ukraine's attack in the Kursk region.
