Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed on Sunday that Ukraine employed a new weapon system designated as the “Pelican” during a large-scale strike on Russian territory. The attack, which targeted logistics hubs and oil infrastructure in the Moscow region, resulted in at least three fatalities and occurred on the final day of Russia’s parliamentary elections.
In a post on X, Zelenskyy stated that the strike had a “very significant impact,” hitting facilities worth billions of dollars that sustain Russia’s war effort. He listed the Pelican alongside several other systems used in the assault, including the FP-1, RZ-100, MICH-2000, Palianytsia, Vendetta, Liutyi, Bars, Flamingo, and Sichen. Moscow reported intercepting over 1,600 drones, with 450 directed at the capital.
The deployment has generated interest among military analysts regarding the exact nature of the Pelican. While some reports suggest it is the FP-7 tactical ballistic missile, others indicate it may be an aircraft-type drone, and independent verification remains unavailable.
Last week at the 34th International Defence Industry Exhibition in Poland, Iryna Terekh, CEO of Ukrainian defense firm Fire Point, stated that Ukraine could begin deploying the FP-7 system within weeks. She described the ground-launched missile as capable of striking targets up to 200 kilometers (125 miles) away with a warhead weighing up to 150kg, traveling at speeds of 1,500 meters per second. Fire Point founder Denys Shtilerman previously noted that the FP-7 is more cost-effective than the US-made Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS).
Although there is no official confirmation linking the FP-7 to the name “Pelican,” Ukrainian media outlets such as The Kyiv Post have drawn the connection. The New Voice of Ukraine reported that Fire Point applied to register the Pelican trademark earlier this year. Conversely, RBC-Ukraine cited unnamed sources claiming the Pelican is a type of drone.
The revelation comes against a backdrop of rapid expansion in Ukraine’s domestic defense industry. In February, Ukraine’s defense ministry reported that domestic production capacity had increased 50-fold to $50 billion, allowing local manufacturers to supply over half of the military’s needs.
Zelenskyy also highlighted recent advancements in air defense, announcing the successful deployment of a new interceptor drone developed by the Security Service of Ukraine’s military counterintelligence unit. This system is designed to counter Iranian-made Shahed drones, which Russia has frequently used to target Ukrainian infrastructure. In March, former Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported that interceptor drones destroyed more than 70 percent of Shahed-type drones in February.
The intensity of attacks on critical infrastructure has escalated on both sides. Ukraine has repeatedly struck warehouses belonging to Russia’s Wildberries e-commerce giant since July, aiming to disrupt supply chains and economic stability. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump reportedly urged Zelenskyy on Sunday to halt attacks on Russian refineries, citing concerns that such strikes are exacerbating the global diesel shortage and driving up fuel prices.
A fifty-fold increase in production is staggering. I wonder how many of these Pelicans are actually flying versus just promising on paper?
OpSec is clearly important here. Denying the exact capabilities keeps enemies guessing and protects our innovation pipeline.