F-16s in repelling Russia's August 26 attack, new Ukrainian ballistic missile test. Serhiy Zgurets' column

Russian attacks on August 26 and 27

Yesterday was marked by a number of disturbing and positive news concerning the frontline, our arsenals, and Russian attempts to destroy the Ukrainian energy system amid the most powerful Russian combined attack since the beginning of the large-scale invasion. Let me remind you that on August 26, 127 long-range missiles and 109 kamikaze drones were used. Yesterday - 10 missiles and 80 drones.

Following recent Russian attacks, it has become known that Ukraine used Western F-16 fighter jets, or rather Ukrainian F-16s, to repel Russian missile strikes for the first time on August 26. This was announced today by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a press conference. He said that as part of a huge missile attack, we shot down some missiles with the help of F-16s and thanked our partners for providing us with F-16s. This is extremely important news because this is the first combat use of these multifunctional aircraft in Ukraine.

This was the scenario that was initially considered, that these aircraft would be used primarily for air defense. This is a NATO concept, because in the Alliance countries, it is the aircraft that do the main work to destroy air threats, and in addition to them, there are ground-based air defense systems. F-16 aircraft have radars and missiles that are quite effective in dealing with Russian missiles. Let me repeat that this is the first stage of using F-16 aircraft by the Ukrainian Air Force.

New Ukrainian ballistic missile

Volodymyr Zelenskyy also announced the almost sensational news that a new ballistic missile, which had been developed by Ukrainian companies for a long time, had been tested. Zelenskyy said that the missile had been successfully tested. However, it is not known when exactly these tests took place. Let me remind you that a few days ago, the President of Ukraine said that we have a long-range missile drone called Palianytsia, but we also have other weapons. As for the other weapons, this is what is meant by an operational and tactical missile.

For a long time, Pivdenne Design Bureau developed projects called Sapsan and Hrim-2. At the time, various figures were given that this missile could have a range of up to 500 km and a warhead weight of 490 kg. We don't know whether these technical indicators have actually been preserved. But this is an extremely important step, as we are making progress in our missile program, where another model is being added to the Palianytsia and the already known Neptune complex.

But this will be noticeable on the battlefield only when this weapon is mass-produced, when our units have developed tactics for using this type of weapon. And there will be plenty of such weapons compared to ATACMS, which we have few of and which we cannot use against enemy targets. I think we can use our missiles without restrictions. The only question is mass production and mass use of this weapon.

Frontline situation

All of this affects what is happening on the front line, because amid this positive news, there are also worrying things. First of all, it concerns the Pokrovsk direction. Pokrovsk is an important logistics hub, and the situation in other parts of the frontline depends on its maintenance. Pokrovsk is about 12 kilometers away.

Now the Russians, using the advantage in manpower and equipment, are approaching this important point of Ukrainian defense. Yesterday, a number of sources reported that the Russian forces made significant advances in Novohrodivka on the Hrodivka and Novohrodivka lines. This is a significant problem for the Ukrainian defense line in this area. However, 2 days ago, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief held a meeting where he said that this area would be reinforced.

Yesterday, the head of the Pokrovsk direction, Oleksandr Syrskyi, explained the details of the Pokrovsk direction. He spoke about the Kursk and Pokrovsk directions. Syrskyi said that the Russians currently have an advantage in manpower, equipment, artillery and aviation in the Pokrovsk direction, and that the Russians are pushing back, although they are suffering significant losses. As for the plan of the offensive in the Kursk region, it was supposed to have some impact on the diversion of Russian forces from the Pokrovsk direction. So far, this has not happened, but the Kursk direction remains one of the most important, priority military and political actions.

Regarding the Kursk direction, yesterday there were comments from the President of Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the Kursk offensive is an element of Ukraine's Peace Plan. He did not elaborate on how this will be transformed into the Peace Plan, although it is one of the components.

It is currently known that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are advancing in several directions in the Kursk region. However, the advance has slowed down somewhat because there are areas of resistance.

On the map, we can see that the Russian groups are in the zone controlled by the Ukrainian Armed Forces along the perimeter. Now the Ukrainian Forces are using their potential to destroy areas of Russian resistance. We understand that Ukrainian troops will continue to hold this bridgehead. We cannot say along which line, but we understand that the Kursk direction remains a priority for the Ukrainian Armed Forces and Defense Forces.

Ukrainian robotic platforms

And next, we will talk about other technical issues related to the introduction of new technologies on the battlefield, namely robotic platforms. It is known that a number of companies are already producing similar models used by Ukrainian Armed Forces. Let's bring in Ihor Chaikivskyi, founder of Robotic Complexes, which developed the Murakha ground robotic system.

A Ukrainian developer stated that the company's goal for the robotic complex is modest, focusing primarily on logistical tasks such as delivering ammunition and supplies, and occasionally evacuation. The system is being improved to enhance its battlefield effectiveness. The company already has some orders and hopes to receive more, with the Robotic Complexes able to meet demand. Additionally, the company has the potential to scale up production.

Ihor Chaikivskyi noted that there is mutual assistance and integration of various systems among Ukrainian developers and manufacturers of robotic platforms. The state is taking significant steps to strengthen and improve such interaction. As for foreign manufacturers of such platforms, Ukraine is currently one of the most progressive countries in the production of not only models or prototypes of combat robots, but also in the production and use of such robots. This is a unique example for most companies in other countries that are trying or manufacturing similar systems. Accordingly, cooperation with foreign companies is ongoing and will only deepen and intensify in the future. Ukraine remains a military testing ground for various military technologies, so, of course, integration and interaction with foreign manufacturers will only increase.

The founder of the Robotic Systems company noted that Russia is also moving towards the development of robotic systems, creating them on different platforms and investing huge amounts of money. However, we have nothing to learn from the enemy, we have our own good models. In addition, our foreign partners are much more technologically advanced than the enemy, so Ukraine will win and the truth will be ours.

Summarizing Ihor's words, I would like to remind you that the Robotic Systems team has developed the Murakha platform, which is already used by the Ukrainian military. And Muraha will be followed by other projects that will be more effective compared to the challenges that exist on the battlefield today.