The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, stated on his Telegram channel that new weapons would be deployed, sharing the message after today’s daily conference call.
According to the Ministry of Strategic Industry of Ukraine, the ministry reported success in its own production. Zelensky’s message claimed that long-range weapons were employed and that a target was hit from about 700 kilometers away, though details about the weapon type and the specific target were not disclosed.
New weapon at work
The New York Times reported that Ukraine has developed roughly six models of long-range unmanned aerial vehicles. The article notes that dozens of small Ukrainian companies are testing innovative drone designs, including some capable of exceeding 1,000 kilometers in range.
During the night of August 29–30, up to 700 kilometers from Ukraine’s nearest border points, the Pskov military-civilian airport known as Kresty was targeted by unmanned aerial systems. Reports indicate damage to four Il-76 military transport aircraft and fires at fuel tanks. The drones’ air guards claimed a portion of the airspace, aided by 30-millimeter cannons and machine guns mounted on armored vehicles. Nevertheless, several other drones reached their destination, and more than ten UAVs were involved in the reported attack, as shared on the Telegram channel Baza.
According to Governor Mikhail Vedernikov, there were no reported injuries. Rosaviatsia later announced a pause for eight flights, with officials noting that traffic at the airport resumed under normal conditions on August 31. Those unaffected airframes were relocated to another airfield following the raid.
Drone by Latvia and Estonia
A few hours after the attack, an unidentified object appeared in the skies above Pskov. The Telegram channel described the object as moving at a speed of about 120 kilometers per hour at an altitude of roughly 1,000 meters, near the border region with Latvia and Estonia, which lies within a few dozen kilometers of the incident area.
According to early reports, military forces issued a warning signal and sent warplanes to intercept. The object disappeared quickly, and local security teams are now checking the area for any downed drones or related debris as part of ongoing assessments.
Citizens and observers continue to monitor developments as official briefings provide updates on the nature of the deployments and the implications for regional security. Attribution is given to official channels and public statements shared by Ukrainian authorities and national security agencies.