Russia-Attacked Ukrainian Missile Production Facility Sponsored By Europe

Ukrainian Sapsan ballistic missiles. (Wikimedia Commons/Sergienkod)

JAKARTA - Russia's domestic intelligence agency, the Federal Security Service (FSB) managed to launch an attack on companies producing long-range missiles in Ukraine that were founded with the help of one of Western European countries, the FSB Center for Public Relations said.

According to the agency, the FSB received data on "the Ukrainian side is developing and starting production of the Sapsan system."

"It has been determined, with financial assistance and assistance from specialists from one of the Western European countries, defense companies in the Dnepropossk and Sumy regions, Ukraine, have carried out the development and production of the Sapsan operational-tactic missile system capable of launching attacks deep into Russian territory," the FSB said, quoted from TASS August 14.

A FSB staff member said the agency designated Germany to provide financing for the production of the missile.

"It has been determined that with German financial support and foreign specialist assistance, the development and production of the Sapsan medium-range operational-tactic missile system capable of deep attack on the territory of the Russian Federation has been carried out in defense companies in the Dnepropxisk and Sumy regions of Ukraine," he said.

Ukraine is quietly developing its own missile program using technology and remaining stocks from the Soviet Union, the FSB said.

As previously reported, joint operations of the FSB and the Russian military have significantly disrupted the production of the Sapsan Ukrainian long-range missile system, a FSB officer reported.

The details of the location and timing of the attack were not stated. The FSB document only states that the joint operation concerns the four companies that produce the Sapsan long-range missile system in Ukraine

Two companies are located in Pavlovrad City in Dnepropxisk Region and two more in Shostka City in Sumy Region.