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The most interesting evidence so far that Ukraine may have the capability to strike targets at a range of 280km+ with domestic systems has come from an unlikely source: a high profile espionage case involving an employee of Ukraine's Pivdenne Design Bureau.
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KB Pivdenne is the state owned design bureau that works with PA Pivenmash, the state owned aerospace manufacturer that famously built the Soviet R-36M or "Satan" nuclear ICBM. Post 1991 they have continued designing and manufacturing missile and space launch vehicles.
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Russian born Reseda Perkova was arested on September 7th for leaking documents related to the "Sapsan" missile system to FSB agent Yevgeny Zykov.
Sapsan is one of many working names for the Grom/Grim-2/Hrim-2 ballistic missile being developed by the Pivdenne Design Bureau.
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Perkova is alleged to have leaked a range of sensitive information to Zykov; The location of Tochka-U repair facilities, documents relating to the as of yet uncompleted "Kilchen" air defense system and even a project to convert R-27 a2a missiles for ground launch.
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Most interestingly though, Perkova stated on June 7th that work on the Sapsan had already resumed and tests were planned soon.
After the strikes on Saky airbase in occupied Crimea, she was asked if the Sapsan could be responsible.
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Perkova responded to her FSB handler that prior to the RU strike on the Pivdenmash plant outside Dnipro on July 2nd, Sapsan "Was at the stage of readiness and release."
After the Russian strike, "Production stopped but [the project] was not canceled"
Saky was struck Aug 9.
BBC Ukraine article
bbc.com/ukrainian/feat…
@JimmySecUK @michaeldweiss in particular may like this one.
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