August 24th 2024.
During a joint press conference in Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, along with Polish President Andrzej Duda and Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, addressed various issues including the country's independence from the old Soviet Union. In his speech, Zelensky hinted at a new weapon that could potentially bring the war back to Russia.
The president revealed that Ukraine has developed a 'drone missile' called 'Palianytsia', which is faster and more powerful than the homemade drones that have been used to strike the Kremlin's oil refineries and military airfields. He even mentioned that this weapon has already been successfully used inside Russia, although he did not disclose the target.
As Ukraine celebrates 33 years of independence, Zelensky emphasized their determination to retaliate against their enemy in a worthy, symmetrical, and long-range manner. He also took a dig at Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling him a 'sick old man' who constantly threatens others with the red button, and stated that he will not dictate any red lines to Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Russia has accused Ukraine of terrorism for their drone strikes, which have caused significant destruction in the country. In response, Zelensky has been urging allies to approve the use of Western weapons inside Russian territory, including airbases housing the warplanes that are attacking Ukrainian citizens.
The president expressed his frustration with the delay in decisions from some of their partners, saying that their new weapon, 'Palianytsia', is a realistic way for them to act. The word 'Palianytsia', which means bread, is a difficult word for Russians to pronounce and has been used as a way to differentiate between the two nations during the war.
Zelensky confidently stated that it will be challenging for Russia to even pronounce the name of the drone missile that will hit them. As the country celebrates Independence Day, the holiday has gained more significance for Ukrainians in the midst of the ongoing invasion, which has sparked a wave of patriotism.
This year, the public holiday was marked with a heightened risk of Russian missile and drone attacks, according to warnings from the US and German embassies. Although there were no major strikes reported as of 6 pm, the air raid siren sounded in Kyiv during the late afternoon.
In addition to the holiday celebrations, Ukraine and Russia also announced the release of 115 prisoners of war each in an exchange between the two countries. The Russian Defence Ministry stated that their freed servicemen were captured during Ukraine's attack in the Kursk region.
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