NextFin news, Ukraine's Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on August 18, 2025, in Kyiv that the country has begun serial production of the Flamingo cruise missile, a weapon capable of striking deep Russian targets up to 1,800 miles (approximately 3,000 kilometers) away. This development marks a significant enhancement in Ukraine's long-range strike capabilities amid ongoing conflict with Russia.
The announcement was made during a public event in Kyiv, where Minister Shmyhal confirmed the missile's production but withheld further technical details, stating that more information would be released "when the right time comes." The missile is reported to carry a warhead weighing up to 1,000 kilograms, making it a powerful conventional weapon.
Photographs and videos published on August 18 by Associated Press photographer Efrem Lukatsky and the Ukrainian newspaper Mirror of the Week show the Flamingo missile being launched from a rail-mounted platform in an open field, indicating that the missile is already operational and has been used in combat against Russian targets. The missile features fixed wings and is capable of climbing immediately after launch.
The Flamingo missile is produced by Fire Point, a Ukrainian defense company. According to Mirror of the Week, the missile underwent testing several months ago and has now entered mass production. The missile reportedly can carry a maximum payload of 1,150 kilograms and has a range of 1,800 miles, allowing it to reach vital Russian military production hubs, including those in the Ural Mountains region, approximately 1,000 miles from Ukraine.
Experts note that the Flamingo bears a strong resemblance to the FP-5 missile developed by Milanion Group, a defense firm based in Abu Dhabi that has cooperated with Ukraine since 2021. The FP-5 is equipped with anti-jamming technology, satellite navigation, and can cruise for up to four hours at speeds of 559 mph. It has a wingspan of 20 feet and a take-off weight of 6,000 kilograms, making it one of the largest cruise missiles in modern use.
The introduction of the Flamingo missile represents a strategic advancement for Ukraine, which has previously relied on shorter-range drones and missiles for strikes within Russia. The missile's extended range enables Kyiv to target deeper Russian military and industrial facilities, potentially disrupting production of armored vehicles, drones, and artillery systems.
Ukraine has demonstrated its capability to produce advanced missile systems during the conflict, including the Neptune anti-ship missile used to sink the Russian Black Sea Fleet flagship Moskva. The Flamingo missile's serial production was confirmed by Defense Minister Shmyhal, who took office in July 2025.
Sources: Business Insider (August 19, 2025), Yahoo News Canada (August 19, 2025), Mirror of the Week (Ukraine, August 18, 2025), Associated Press photographer Efrem Lukatsky's Facebook post (August 14, 2025).
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