Ukraine puts war-changing weapon into mass production in a blow to Putin 

Ukraine has officially begun mass production of a weapon that could significantly alter the course of its ongoing conflict with Russia, now in its fourth year.

The Sapsan ballistic missile—first mentioned as a domestic defense project back in 2006—entered full-scale production in June 2025, just two years after it was revived from concept status.

Russia’s invasion in February 2022 breathed new life into the long-dormant project, and the first successful tests of the Sapsan took place in August 2024.

Now combat-ready, the Sapsan has reportedly already been used by the Ukrainian military to strike a Russian target 300 kilometers away, according to the Kyiv Independent.

On June 13, Kyiv announced that the missile would be produced at scale, enhancing Ukraine’s ability to strike targets on Russian soil while also bolstering its defensive capabilities. Although few technical details have been disclosed, the missile is believed to have a range of approximately 300 kilometers.

(QG - Source: Kyiv Independent - Picture : © Unsplash)