Ukraine’s Long-Range Neptune Missile Successfully Strikes at 1,000 km, Zelenskyy Says

Ukraine has successfully tested and deployed its new long-range missile, the “Long Neptune,” according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The missile, developed as part of Ukraine’s ongoing missile program, has a reported range of 1,000 kilometers.

“The Long Neptune has undergone testing and successful combat deployment. A new Ukrainian missile, precise and effective,” Zelenskyy stated in a Telegram post. He thanked Ukrainian developers, manufacturers, and military personnel for their contributions to the project.

Reports indicate that the Long Neptune is an extended-range modification of the domestically produced Neptune cruise missile, originally designed for targeting naval assets. The missile’s adaptation for long-range strikes on land targets marks a significant advancement in Ukraine’s defense capabilities.

According to Defense Express report, while official details on production capacity and previous deployments remain undisclosed, analysts suggest the Long Neptune may have been used in recent strikes. Unverified footage circulating online indicates a potential strike on the Tuapse oil refinery in Russia on March 14. However, this information has not been confirmed by official sources.

The development of a long-range Neptune variant was first hinted at in late 2023, when Ukrainian defense officials acknowledged work on an extended-range missile for the Neptune system. In November 2024, President Zelenskyy mentioned that Ukraine had reached the production milestone of over 100 missile units.

Ukraine has previously employed the Neptune missile in strikes against Russian military infrastructure. Reports from 2023 indicate its use against a Russian S-400 air defense system in occupied Crimea. In 2024, modified Neptune missiles were reportedly used to target Russian military storage sites, including drone and equipment depots in Yeysk and near Kursk.

Neptune missile and other missile programs

Before the full-scale invasion, Ukraine had various missile programs in development, including the Neptune anti-ship cruise missile. In April 2023, it was revealed that Ukraine was adapting the Neptune missile for land-based targets.

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War in Ukraine

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The Ukrainian Armed Forces have since utilized Neptune missiles in attacks on oil terminals, ammunition depots, and air defense systems. Other notable targets included airfields and Russia’s S-400 Triumf systems in Crimea.

In late August, Ukraine successfully tested its first ballistic missile, according to Zelenskyy. The president mentioned that Ukraine is progressing toward deploying these domestically-developed ballistic missiles, marking a significant milestone in the country’s defense capabilities.