Ukraine Unveils ‘Flamingo’ Cruise Missile: Game-Changing Weapon To Strike 3,000 Km Into Russia

Ukraine has unveiled its most powerful domestically produced weapon to date — the Flamingo cruise missile — a development that could significantly alter the trajectory of its war with Russia.

Created by defence startup Fire Point, the Flamingo can carry a massive 2,535-pound warhead and reach targets up to 3,000 kilometers away, placing critical Russian infrastructure deep behind enemy lines within striking range.

The launch of the missile reflects Kyiv’s strategic shift toward defence self-reliance, reducing dependence on Western arms and positioning Ukraine as a potential global hub for military innovation.

Its reveal comes at a highly symbolic moment — just days after talks between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, and ahead of a scheduled meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Trump.

Fire Point currently produces one Flamingo missile per day, with plans to ramp up output to seven per day by October 2025 — a potential annual production of more than 2,500 missiles. Zelenskyy has called for full mass production by December 2025, envisioning Ukraine as the “Silicon Valley of defence.”

Ukraine already spends around $10 billion annually on locally manufactured weapons, fueling a booming defense industry since Russia’s 2022 invasion. Fire Point’s production chief, Iryna Terekh, warned of escalating conflict, stating: “We are preparing for a bigger, much scarier war.”

The Flamingo’s symbolic origins — initially painted bright pink to highlight women’s role in production — have since given way to combat camouflage. Terekh emphasised its true purpose: “You don’t need a scary name for a missile that can fly 3,000 kilometers. The main goal is effectiveness.”

With its unprecedented range and destructive capability, the Flamingo may usher in a new phase of the war — one that Moscow cannot afford to ignore.