Overview

• A state-run Zbroya video on Independence Day and a government photo provided the first clear look at the upgraded Neptune, which officials and media say has been operational for months.
• Open-source measurements indicate a longer airframe of over six meters, a thicker central fuselage of about 50 centimeters, and enlarged control surfaces that likely increase fuel capacity and range.
• President Volodymyr Zelensky said in March the missile can reach roughly 1,000 kilometers, and Defense Express reports it has been used in combat since March against targets inside Russia.
• Official specifications remain undisclosed, and the warhead size is unconfirmed, with some reports suggesting an estimated payload around 350 kilograms.
• Analysts frame the unveiling within reported U.S. limits on using Western long‑range munitions inside Russia, while Ukraine pursues parallel domestic systems such as the newly revealed Flamingo cruise missile.