- Ukraine released the first public footage of a long-range Neptune cruise missile being launched during a night strike on Russian targets.
- President Zelenskyy said, “Ukrainian long-range Neptunes. We are doing more,” as the video showed the missile’s combat use.
Ukraine has released its first public footage of a long-range version of the Neptune cruise missile being launched during a night strike on Russian targets, marking a new stage in Kyiv’s use of domestically developed precision weapons.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy published the video early Thursday, showing what he described as combat launches of the system. In the accompanying message, he wrote: “Ukrainian long-range Neptunes. We are doing more.”
The footage shows the missile lifting off in darkness, revealing only brief flashes from the booster stage. Ukraine has released no formal technical specifications, but the missile shown in the video has been described in previous statements as a modern, extended-range variant intended for land-attack missions. Reports inside Ukraine say the missile has an estimated range of roughly 1,000 kilometers, though this figure has not been officially confirmed.
According to Defense Express, the system has already been used in combat operations since March. The outlet has reported that Ukraine has continued to refine its domestic missile programs in response to Russian attacks on critical infrastructure.
The missile, manufactured by Ukrainian industry and operated by the country’s defense forces, is part of a broader push to expand long-range strike options without relying on foreign-supplied systems.
The overnight attack on Novorossiysk, which took place early on November 14, triggered fires across several sites in the port area. Ukrainian sources reported that the strike targeted the Sheskharis oil terminal and a nearby Russian air-defense installation.
Residents filmed multiple fire outbreaks and heavy smoke rising over the port. Local officials in Russia later acknowledged damage at the Sheskharis transshipment facility and reported that a civilian vessel in the port had been struck by debris.
In addition to the terminal, Ukrainian open-source researchers from the Cyberboroshno community reported that positions of Russian S-300 and S-400 air-defense systems were hit inside the grounds of military unit 1537. According to their assessment, posted on social platforms, the blast patterns and fire locations indicated the strike affected equipment belonging to the regiment. The report said the footage from residents showed a bright flash followed by a column of fire and smoke climbing over the site.
Satellite data from NASA’s FIRMS platform recorded several fire points in the Novorossiysk region during the same period, consistent with the videos circulating from the port and nearby districts. Analysts often use FIRMS data to confirm large fires after strikes, though the system does not indicate the exact cause.
The release of the missile footage by Ukraine is notable because Kyiv rarely shows long-range systems during active operations. By publishing the launch video, Zelenskyy highlighted Ukraine’s ability to develop and field domestically produced strike weapons capable of reaching deep into Russian territory.