--- title: "Zelensky says Ukraine used new ballistic missiles on Moscow" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/zelensky-says-ukraine-used-new-ballistic-missiles-on-moscow" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/zelensky-says-ukraine-used-new-ballistic-missiles-on-moscow" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/zelensky-says-ukraine-used-new-ballistic-missiles-on-moscow.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/zelensky-says-ukraine-used-new-ballistic-missiles-on-moscow" category: "Conflict & Security" area: "Russia" published: "2026-09-20T12:05:16.986Z" source_reported: "2026-09-20T11:41:31.000Z" updated: "2026-09-20T12:05:16.986Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 57 hype_score: 41 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-20T13:00:24.372213+00:00" --- # Zelensky says Ukraine used new ballistic missiles on Moscow *President claims attack hit oil and logistics facilities, resulting in billions of dollars in war support.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to Zelensky, with some outlets naming specific missiles and others not. - Craft 57 of 100, higher is better. Reporting is largely based on digests, with limited independent verification or context provided. - Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Headlines emphasize the 'first use' of a missile, creating a sense of novelty and escalation. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukraine used cruise missiles, including the Flamingo, and new ballistic missiles, including the Pelican (FP-7), in an attack on the Moscow region. - Zelensky claimed the attack hit a major Russian oil industry facility and a logistics center, resulting in billions of dollars supporting the war effort. - Several outlets reported this was the first time the Pelican ballistic missile had been used in an attack on Moscow. - Russian authorities claimed to have intercepted over 450 drones targeting Moscow, though Mayor Sergei Sobyanin acknowledged some reached the Moscow refinery and one damaged a residential building. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine had deployed cruise and new ballistic missiles in an attack on the Moscow region. He identified the missiles used as the Flamingo cruise missile and the Pelican (FP-7) ballistic missile. Zelensky stated that the strikes targeted a significant Russian oil industry facility and a logistics center, which he claimed would impact billions of dollars supporting Russia's war effort. Multiple reports indicated that this was the first instance of the Pelican ballistic missile being used in an attack on Moscow. The operation involved several Ukrainian defense and intelligence agencies, according to ZN.UA. Russian authorities reported intercepting over 450 drones aimed at Moscow. However, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed that some drones reached the Moscow refinery and that one drone damaged a residential building. ## Disagreement on missile details While President Zelensky identified the Pelican as a new ballistic missile used in the attack, ZN.UA also listed other potential weapons used, including FP-1, RZ-100, MICH-2000, "Palatinate", Vendetta, "Lute", "Bars", "Flamingo", and "Sichny". The reports do not clarify if these were all distinct missile types or variations. ## What the coverage left out None of the reports printed below mention the specific figure of billions of dollars that President Zelensky claimed would be impacted in supporting the war effort. The reports also do not detail the extent of the damage to the oil industry facility or the logistics center beyond Zelensky's claims. ## Who covered it Shares of the 7 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 0% (0) - Centre: 43% (3) - Right: 57% (4) 13 of 20 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-20T13:00:24.372213+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 6 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-20T13:30:34.028Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left No separate framing summary. ### Centre - The centre-rated reports from ANSA and ZN.UA both led with President Zelensky's announcement of the use of cruise and ballistic missiles, including the Pelican, in the attack on Moscow. Both outlets detailed Zelensky's claims that the strikes hit a major Russian oil industry facility and a logistics center, impacting billions of dollars supporting the war effort. ZN.UA also provided specific details about the operation, noting the involvement of multiple Ukrainian defense and intelligence agencies and mentioning the potential use of various missile types. ZN.UA also reported on the Russian authorities' claims regarding drone interceptions and damage to the Moscow refinery and a residential building. ### Right - The right-rated reports from EADaily, topwar.ru, Korrespondent.net, and news-pravda.com focused on President Zelensky's statement regarding the use of the Pelican rocket. EADaily and topwar.ru highlighted that this was the first time the Pelican rocket was used in an attack on Moscow. Korrespondent.net stated that Zelensky revealed details of the attack. News-pravda.com quoted Zelensky directly, stating that Ukraine had fired an FP-7 Pelican ballistic missile at Moscow and noted its development based on S-300 family missiles. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - veryLow: 1 - low: 1 - mixed: 1 - high: 4 - unknown: 13 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [15min.lt](https://15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/pasaulis/zelenskis-ukraina-surenge-pirmaji-balistiniu-raketu-smugi-pries-maskva-57-2767680) — Zelensky: Ukraine Launched First Ballistic Missile Strike Against Moscow - [istories.media](https://istories.media/news/2026/09/20/zelenskii-zayavil-o-primenenii-pelikana-pri-obstrele-moskvi) — Zelensky Claimed the Use of "Pelican" in the Attack on Moscow - [EADaily](https://eadaily.com/ru/news/2026/09/20/zelenskiy-zayavil-chto-pri-udare-po-moskve-vpervye-primenena-raketa-pelikan) — Zelensky Stated that in the Attack on Moscow, the Pelican Rocket Was First Used: EADaily - [dialogos.com.cy](https://dialogos.com.cy/oykrania-gia-proti-fora-chrisimopoiisan-ton-vallistiko-pyraylo-pelican-se-epitheseis-sti-moscha) — Ukraine: Pelican Ballistic Missile Used for First Time in Attacks on Moscow - [Akşam](https://aksam.com.tr/dunya/savasta-yeni-perde-ukraynanin-pelikan-fuzesi-ilk-kez-rusyada-kullanildi/haber-1699847) — A New Chapter in the War! Ukraine's Pelikan Missile Used for the First Time in Russia. - [Haberler](https://haberler.com/guncel/zelenskiy-moskova-ve-voronej-de-petrol-ve-isletme-20254809-haberi) — Zelenskyy Reported that Oil and Processing Facilities in Moscow and Voronezh Were Hit. - [echo24.cz](https://echo24.cz/a/HctRu/svet-zpravy-ukrajina-poprve-zautocila-na-rusko-balistickou-raketou) — Ukraine Has Attacked Russia with a Ballistic Missile for the First Time. It Is a Pelican Missile - [L'Unione Sarda.it](https://unionesarda.it/news/mondo/massiccio-attacco-su-mosca-caos-voli-allaeroporto-zelensky-usati-anche-missili-da-crociera-e-balistici-yfkhn36j) — Massive Attack on Moscow, Flight Chaos at the Airport. Zelensky: 'Cruise and Ballistic Missiles Are Also Used' - [CNN Greece](https://cnn.gr/kosmos/story/553145/gia-proti-fora-oi-oukranoi-xrisimopoiisan-ton-vallistiko-pyravlo-pelican-se-epitheseis-sti-mosxa) — For the First Time, Ukrainians Used the Pelican Ballistic Missile in Attacks on Moscow - [Unknown](https://war.obozrevatel.com/zelenskij-zayavil-o-primenenii-pelican-v-otnoshenii-rf-chto-izvestno.htm) — Zelensky Declared the Application of Pelican to the Russian Federation: What Is Known - [ANSA](https://ansa.it/sito/notizie/topnews/2026/09/20/zelensky-nellattacco-su-mosca-usati-anche-missili-da-crociera-e-balistici_3381b76c-85fe-44b6-8d39-67ac4c75bd71.html) — Zelensky, 'in the Attack on Moscow Also Used Cruise Missiles and Ballistics' - [topwar.ru](https://topwar.ru/290098-zelenskij-zajavil-ob-udare-po-moskve-novejshej-ukrainskoj-raketoj-fp-7-pelican.html) — Zelensky Announced the Attack on Moscow with the Latest Ukrainian FP-7 Pelican Missile - [Korrespondent.net](https://korrespondent.net/ukraine/4913233-udar-po-moskve-zelenskyi-raskryl-detaly) — The Attack on Moscow: Zelensky Revealed the Details. - [Cryptocurrency News | Cryptocurrency Prices | Market Cap](https://cryptocurrency.com.tr/ukraine-uses-pelican-ballistic-missile-in-massive-strike-on-moscow-refinery-383871) — Ukraine uses Pelican ballistic missile in massive strike on Moscow refinery - [Crypto Briefing](https://cryptobriefing.com/ukraine-uses-pelican-ballistic-missile-in-massive-strike-on-moscow-refinery) — Ukraine uses Pelican ballistic missile in massive strike on Moscow refinery - [Unknown](https://glavcom.ua/country/incidents/ukrajinska-balistika-zelenskij-zaintrihuvav-zajavoju-pro-zbroju-zastosovanu-pid-moskvoju-1144074.html) — Zelensky Intrigued by Statement About Weapons Used Under Moscow - [reform.news](https://reform.news/ukraina-mogla-vpervye-primenit-ballisticheskuju-raketu-pelican-pri-atake-po-moskve) — Ukraine Could Have Used a Pelican Ballistic Missile for the First Time in an Attack on Moscow. - [Gazeta.ua](https://gazeta.ua/articles/politics/_pid-chas-ataki-na-moskvu-zsu-vpershe-zastosuvali-ukrayinsku-balistichnu-raketu-zelenskij/1259031) — During the Attack on Moscow, the Armed Forces Used Ukrainian Ballistic Missile for the First Time - [news-pravda.com](https://news-pravda.com/world/2026/09/20/2605510.html) — "Ukraine has fired an FP-7 Pelican ballistic missile at Moscow," Zelensky said - [ZN.UA Зеркало недели](https://zn.ua/war/ukraina-nochju-nanesla-raketnyj-udar-po-moskve-zelenskij.html) — Zelensky Hinted at Ballistic Strikes in Moscow. ## Questions **What did Ukraine use in the attack on Moscow?** Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukraine used cruise missiles, including the Flamingo, and new ballistic missiles, including the Pelican (FP-7), in an attack on the Moscow region. Several reports indicated this was the first use of the Pelican ballistic missile in an attack on Moscow. **What targets did Ukraine claim to hit in Moscow?** President Zelensky claimed that the attack hit a major Russian oil industry facility and a logistics center. He stated that these strikes would impact billions of dollars supporting Russia's war effort. **What did Russian authorities say about the attack?** Russian authorities claimed to have intercepted over 450 drones targeting Moscow. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin acknowledged that some drones reached the Moscow refinery and one damaged a residential building. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/conflict/zelensky-says-ukraine-used-new-ballistic-missiles-on-moscow. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Zelensky says Ukraine used new ballistic missiles on Moscow", https://mediabias.news/conflict/zelensky-says-ukraine-used-new-ballistic-missiles-on-moscow