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Ukraine’s New “Bars” Missile Drone Can Hit Targets 500 Miles Inside Russia

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Ivan Khomenko
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A Ukrainian-made Bars missile drone on a mobile platform, designed for deep strikes up to 500 miles inside Russian territory. Illustrative image. (Source: UNITED24 Media)
A Ukrainian-made Bars missile drone on a mobile platform, designed for deep strikes up to 500 miles inside Russian territory. Illustrative image. (Source: UNITED24 Media)

Ukraine has developed a new medium-range strike weapon known as the “Bars” drone-missile, capable of targeting military infrastructure deep inside Russian territory.

According to BBC, the Bars missile is a private sector innovation and is comparable in design to the previously disclosed Ukrainian cruise missile “Peklo.” With an estimated range of 700–800 kilometers, the missile falls into the “Middle Strike” category.

The missile is part of Ukraine’s growing family of so-called “drone-missiles”—a hybrid class combining features of cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.

These weapons typically use compact turbojet engines, carry a relatively small warhead (estimated at 50–100 kg), and can be launched from both ground-based platforms and aircraft. Their design makes them harder to intercept by enemy air defenses.

The main advantage of the Bars system is its scalability. It is designed for mass production within Ukraine, allowing the Defense Forces to conduct regular, long-range precision strikes against targets beyond the front line.

The unveiling of the Bars follows the introduction of several other Ukrainian-made missile systems over the past year, including:

  • Peklo: a cruise missile with an estimated range of up to 700 km and speed of 700 km/h.

  • Palianytsia: a ground-launched turbojet missile with a range of approximately 600 km, equipped with satellite and inertial navigation systems.

  • Ruta: a drone-missile with an estimated range of up to 300 km and speeds reaching 800 km/h, potentially capable of conducting both strike and reconnaissance missions.

The Bars is expected to be operational in the near term, providing Ukrainian forces with additional strike capabilities for operations against military targets inside Russia.

Although detailed specifications and imagery of the missile remain classified.

Earlier, in 2024, Ukraine’s defense industry ramped up missile production eightfold, manufacturing over 100 domestically produced missiles, including new systems like Peklo, Palianytsia, Ruta, and Bars.

Peklo, in particular, entered serial production rapidly—100 units were produced in just three months. Built with 70% Ukrainian components and designed for flexible assembly, the missile combines low cost with long-range precision.

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