The Daily Populous Monday January 12nd, 2026 evening edition
Authored by kyivindependent.com and submitted by nurshakil10

The United Kingdom has launched Project Nightfall, a competition to rapidly develop new long-range ballistic missiles for Ukraine that can strike targets far behind enemy lines, according to a U.K. Defense Ministry handout provided to the Kyiv Independent on Jan. 11.

The announcement follows U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey's recent visit to Ukraine, which coincided with a massive Russian missile and drone attack against Kyiv and other cities on Jan. 8-9. During the strike, Russia launched an Oreshnik ballistic missile at western Ukraine, only 60 kilometers (37 miles) from the Polish border.

The Oreshnik attack on Lviv Oblast came as Healey was traveling through the region en route to Kyiv.

"We were close enough to hear the air raid sirens around Lviv on our journey to Kyiv, it was a serious moment and a stark reminder of the barrage of drones and missiles hitting Ukrainians in sub-zero conditions," Healey said.

"We won't stand for this, which is why we are determined to put leading-edge weapons into the hands of Ukrainians as they fight back."

Nightfall missiles will carry a 200 kg (440 lb) warhead and have a range of over 500 kilometers (about 310 miles), the ministry said. The ground-launched missiles are designed to be fired in rapid succession and then quickly withdrawn, giving Ukraine the opportunity to hit high-value targets before Russian forces can respond.

The production rate is 10 missiles per month, with a maximum price of $1.07 million.

Project Nightfall aims to grant three industry teams a $12 million development contract to produce the first three missiles for test firing within one year. Proposals will be accepted through early February, with the goal of awarding contracts in March 2026.

"A secure Europe needs a strong Ukraine. These new long-range British missiles will keep Ukraine in the fight and give (Russian President Vladimir) Putin another thing to worry about," said U.K. Defense Procurement Minister Luke Pollard.

Kyiv has repeatedly stressed the need to reinforce its ability to target Russian military sites and energy infrastructure with long-range weapons, aiming to increase the economic costs of Moscow's war while strengthening its own air defense network against Russian strikes on Ukraine's power grid.

Steve0-BA on January 12nd, 2026 at 13:23 UTC »

I wish Canada would develop similar missiles that use a wide range of warheads, and were capable of alluding modern air defences. "To help Ukraine"

Nick_Strong on January 12nd, 2026 at 12:58 UTC »

This is the only language Russia understands. Unlike Macron and Meloni, who still believe Putin can be reasoned with, at least the UK understands what would actually force him to finally end the war.

noir_lord on January 12nd, 2026 at 12:33 UTC »

While I have my issues with my countries government domestically, the support for Ukraine (across both major parties) isn't one of them.

I just wish we'd do even more than we already are, giving them new capabilities is great but giving them those capabilities in volume is better still.

> The production rate is 10 missiles per month, with a maximum price of $1.07 million.

That's the problem, it's a system we could use ourselves so why isn't the production rate much higher and unit costs typically go down with volume production.