On June 13, 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the country was actively preparing for serial production of the Sapsan operational-tactical missile system (OTRK), which includes ballistic missiles. Speaking at a briefing with journalists, he noted that successful tests of the missile had taken place earlier, and current efforts were aimed at scaling up production.

"The Sapsan missiles are not today, positive tests were much earlier. Today, the possibility of mass production of a ballistic missile is being developed. When, how, in what quantities - I cannot say", Zelensky emphasized, without disclosing details for security reasons.

The development of the Sapsan began back in 2006 with the support of President Viktor Yushchenko, when the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau received an order to create a multifunctional missile system capable of using ballistic, anti-aircraft and anti-ship missiles. The project, initially conceived as an analogue of the Russian Iskander, envisaged a range of up to 500 km and a warhead weighing about 480 kg. However, in 2013, funding was suspended due to ineffective use of funds, and work resumed only after 2022.

According to Valentyn Badrak, Director of the Center for Army, Conversion and Disarmament Studies, the Sapsan successfully passed tests in July 2024, and in May 2025 the missile was used in combat for the first time. During the tests, the missile reached a speed of Mach 5,2 (approximately 6370 km/h), which makes it faster than the American ATACMS (Mach 3) and comparable to the Russian Iskander-M (Mach 6). Badrak noted that the Ukrainian Defense Ministry confirmed that there are no obstacles to launching serial production.

Zelensky stressed that the missile program is one of the priorities of Ukraine's defense strategy. At a recent meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Headquarters, issues of staffing brigades, providing units and developing missile potential were discussed. "Sapsan" is designed to hit strategic targets, such as command posts, ammunition depots and airfields of the enemy, which can significantly strengthen the capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.