Ukraine Deploys Indigenous Flamingo Rockets in Targeted Strikes Against Russia

Ukraine’s military announced on Thursday that it had employed domestically developed long-range Flamingo rockets in airstrikes conducted overnight, targeting locations within Russia and sections of occupied Ukraine.

The General Staff reported that its forces hit “several dozen” targets using an unspecified number of drones along with other long-range missiles, in addition to the Flamingo rockets.

The military specified that the attack aimed at an oil terminal, drone storage facilities, and a radar station in the annexed Crimea region, as well as command posts and supply depots in the partially occupied Zaporizhzhia area.

The General Staff also released a video showcasing missiles being launched from a field during the night, mentioning that the extent of the damage caused by these strikes is still being evaluated.

On the Russian side, the Defense Ministry stated that its air defense systems had intercepted 130 Ukrainian drones over various regions of Russia and annexed Crimea overnight, but did not reference any Ukrainian missile attacks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky referred to the Flamingo as «the most effective» missile in Ukraine’s military stockpile.

In late October, Zelensky noted that Ukraine was actively utilizing newly manufactured Flamingo and Ruta missiles on the battlefield, although he did not disclose specific quantities. He remarked that the nation was “making significant progress” in the production of domestic missiles.

Developed by the Ukrainian firm Fire Point, the Flamingo missile boasts a reported range of up to 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles) and is equipped with a warhead weighing 1,150 kilograms (2,500 pounds).

In August, Zelensky revealed that Ukraine had successfully conducted tests with Flamingo missiles, suggesting that they could be mass-produced by early 2026. However, last month he revised the production timeline to late 2025.

In light of delays in Western ammunition supplies and restrictions on their deployment, Kyiv has accelerated its efforts to develop domestic weaponry, especially long-range systems capable of hitting targets within Russia.

Fire Point, the company behind the Flamingo, is currently under investigation by Ukraine’s anti-corruption authorities over allegations of inflated component pricing or exaggerated production figures. The company has acknowledged the investigation but has denied any misconduct.