The Russian Ministry of Defense claims that Ukraine started using Hrim-2 tactical ballistic missiles.

The spokesperson of the Russian Ministry said that air defense allegedly intercepted one Hrim-2 tactical missile.

The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed the alleged neutralization of a Ukrainian tactical ballistic missile for the first time.

“Today, one Hrim-2 tactical ballistic missile and three HIMARS missiles were intercepted, and two Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed in the areas of the settlements of Novoandriyivka and Zelenyi Hai,” the Russian defense ministry claimed.

Regardless, the Russians did not present any evidence of Ukraine’s use of the Hrim-2 TBM.

Before the full-scale invasion, the Ukrainian tactical ballistic missile system was under development. This missile system is considered a powerful weapon of non-nuclear deterrence against the aggressor.

OTRK Sapsan (export name of the Hrim-2) is being developed to defeat single and group stationary targets at ranges between 50 and 280 km.

The onboard control system of the missile is inertial and is equipped with various types of navigation and guidance systems (radar, optical-electronic, and others).

In 2016, it was announced that Saudi Arabia held negotiations with Ukraine to purchase Ukrainian Hrim-2 TBM and finance the R&D program.

Two years later, the homing head test for this TBM was completed.

In April 2019, a prototype of the tactical ballistic missile by the Pivdenne Design Office was reported ready for testing in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

In 2022, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine should have been able to work on developing a domestic missile shield. It would primarily regard the resumption of work on the Sapsan tactical ballistic missile.