Ukraine’s 500-km-range Sapsan missile: From 2018 parade debut to combat use
Photo: Sapsan operational-tactical missile system (Wikipedia)
Ukraine’s Sapsan ballistic missile remains one of the flagship projects of the country's missile program. Development began long before Russia's full-scale invasion, and the missile was successfully tested during the war.
RBC-Ukraine takes a look at what is known about the Sapsan ballistic missile program and why the system has remained in development for so long.
Key points:
- Fire Point ballistic missile. Fire Point CEO Iryna Terekh confirmed that, alongside the company’s own ballistic missile program, the Sapsan project has achieved significant advances in accuracy and technology.
- Specifications. The missile has a range of up to 500 kilometers, carries a warhead weighing about 500 kilograms, and uses a combined guidance system consisting of inertial navigation with satellite correction.
- Fedorov’s statement. On July 15, 2026, the former minister announced the successful test of a ballistic missile featuring improved accuracy and a 30% reduction in cost.
- The first public display. A full-scale mock-up of the Sapsan missile system was unveiled on August 24, 2018, during the military parade in Kyiv marking Ukraine’s Independence Day.
What is known about Sapsan and when it was unveiled
The Sapsan operational-tactical missile system (designation 1KR1) is being developed by the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau, with the Pavlohrad Chemical Plant serving as its manufacturing partner. A full-scale mock-up of the system was first publicly displayed on August 24, 2018, during the military parade in Kyiv marking Ukraine’s Independence Day. The launcher closed the ground column of military equipment alongside the Bohdana, Vilkha, and Verba systems.
The Ministry of Defense signed its first state contract for the procurement of Sapsan with Yuzhnoye Design Bureau in August 2022, according to Oleksandr Liiev, who served as deputy head of the ministry’s state procurement department in 2022–2023.
In May 2025, according to Presidential Office chief Andriy Yermak in comments to The Times, the system was used in combat for the first time, with a missile striking a Russian command post at a distance of nearly 300 kilometers. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced in June 2025 that preparations for serial production were actively underway.
The missile has a range of up to 500 kilometers, carries a warhead weighing about 500 kilograms, and can reach speeds of up to 2,300 meters per second. Its guidance system combines inertial navigation with satellite correction and can also employ electro-optical and radar seekers. An export version with a range of up to 280 kilometers is also available.
What Fedorov said and what Fire Point has to do with it
On July 15, 2026, Mykhailo Fedorov, who had already left his post as defense minister, announced the successful test of a ballistic missile. According to him, the original technical requirements had been significantly revised, accuracy had been dramatically improved, and the cost of the missile had been reduced by 30%.
Fedorov did not disclose the name of the system. However, based on his description, it was likely either the Sapsan missile or one of the ballistic missile projects being developed by Fire Point.
The Sapsan program was also discussed by Fire Point CEO Iryna Terekh in an interview with TWZ published in August 2026. Asked whether Fedorov’s remarks referred to her company’s missile program or the state-run Sapsan project, she said that both Fire Point and Yuzhnoye Design Bureau, the developer of Sapsan, were conducting missile tests at roughly the same time.
According to Terekh, Sapsan has also undergone significant improvements and recently achieved one of its first major breakthroughs in terms of accuracy and technological capability. As a result, she said Fedorov’s comments likely referred either to both programs or specifically to Sapsan.
Potential targets for the missile include command posts, ammunition depots, airfields, and other strategic facilities deep behind enemy lines at distances of up to 500 kilometers.
Earlier, Fire Point co-founder Denys Shtilerman revealed a photo featuring a missile, sparking renewed discussion about the company's ballistic missile developments.
