Ukraine Claims Strike on Russia with 1,000 km-Range Domestic Missile

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine successfully struck a target inside Russia using an upgraded Neptune missile with a range of up to 1,000 kilometers.

Over the weekend, Zelensky said he had received reports on Ukraine’s domestic missile program, highlighting "very significant results."

"The extended-range Neptune missile has been tested and successfully deployed in combat. This is Ukraine’s new missile, capable of reaching 1,000 km," he stated.

While the Ukrainian president did not provide further details, Forbes suggested he was referring to the March 14 strike on an oil refinery in Tuapse, Krasnodar region, southern Russia—nearly 500 km from the front lines. Krasnodar Governor Veniamin Kondratiev confirmed the attack ignited a fuel storage tank, with flames covering 1,000 square meters.

The Tuapse refinery is a key fuel supplier for the Russian military and has been targeted multiple times by Ukrainian strikes. A previous attack in May 2024 briefly forced its shutdown.

Upgraded Neptune: Ukraine’s New Long-Range Missile

The "extended-range Neptune" is an enhanced version of Ukraine’s R-360 Neptune anti-ship cruise missile, originally based on the Soviet-era 3M24 Uran. Developed by Ukraine’s Luch Design Bureau, the upgraded variant reportedly features extended range and improved electronic systems.

The Neptune missile gained global attention after sinking the Russian Black Sea Fleet’s flagship, the Moskva, in April 2022. The original Neptune measures over 5 meters in length, weighs 870 kg, and carries a 150 kg warhead, with a range of around 300 km.

The anti-ship version of Neptune uses an inertial navigation system to reach its target area before activating an active radar seeker. The land-attack variant is equipped with GPS navigation and infrared sensors.

Ukraine has been developing the "extended-range Neptune" for years, likely modifying the missile’s body to accommodate more fuel, effectively tripling its range.

Zelensky has previously stated that Ukraine aims to produce approximately 100,000 long-range weapons in 2025, including upgraded Neptune missiles and kamikaze drones with a flight range of up to 1,600 km.

(Sources: Forbes, Kyiv Independent)