Ukraine Unveils 1,000 km Cruise Missile, Possibly Used in Russian Refinery Strike

On March 14, 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the successful development of a new ground-launched cruise missile with an impressive range of 1,000 kilometers. This advanced missile is derived from the R-360 Neptune, an anti-ship missile originally designed by Kyiv-based defense firm KB Luch.

According to Zelensky, the missile has completed combat testing and successfully struck its designated target with high precision. The announcement came just a day after Ukraine reportedly carried out a strike on a Russian oil refinery in Tuapse, raising speculation about whether the newly developed missile was already in action.

Initially, it was believed that Ukraine had used long-range combat drones for the refinery attack. However, emerging evidence suggests that the strike may have been executed using this advanced cruise missile. Reports indicate that the missile was launched from an area near Odesa over the Black Sea, making the Tuapse refinery—approximately 700–800 kilometers away—a well-within-range target.

Security camera footage from the refinery attack further supports this theory. The distinct sound of the incoming projectile and the powerful explosion are more consistent with a cruise missile strike than a drone attack.

The original Neptune missile, which had a range of 400 kilometers, was developed before the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war. It was first introduced at the International Defence and Security Exhibition in Kyiv in 2015 and officially entered limited service in 2021. Despite production difficulties, KB Luch aimed to deliver nearly 100 Neptune missiles by the end of 2024. The missile gained international attention when it was used to sink the Russian warship Moskva in the Black Sea.

Over time, the Neptune missile underwent modifications, allowing it to strike land-based targets inside Russia. In 2023, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence launched a modernization initiative to further adapt the missile for ground attacks. The upgraded variant now features an improved warhead, an enhanced flight control system, and satellite-guided positioning. For pinpoint accuracy in the final attack phase, the missile also incorporates an infrared guidance system.

Ukraine’s latest development in missile technology signals a significant boost in its long-range strike capabilities, potentially reshaping the battlefield dynamics in the ongoing war.