The Ukrainian military has confirmed that it used its new, long-range Flamingo cruise missiles in coordinated strikes overnight, targeting areas in occupied Crimea, Zaporizhzhia, and inside Russia.
What Happened in the Strike
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a range of weapons was used, including Flamingo missiles, Bars missiles, and Liutyi drones.
The military says it hit several dozen targets.
In Crimea, the targets included:
The Morskoy Neftyanoy Terminal, an oil storage site
A helicopter parking area and sites where drones are stored and prepared at the Kirovske airfield
A radar station for air defence near Yevpatoriya.
In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Ukraine struck:
An oil depot near Berdyansk
Forward command posts of Russia’s 5th Combined Arms Army and the 127th Motor Rifle Division.
The strike also hit multiple sites inside Russia, though the Ukrainian military says the full damage is still being assessed.
About the Flamingo Missile
The Flamingo (also known as FP-5) is a Ukrainian-made, ground-launched cruise missile developed by the company Fire Point.
It has a claimed range of about 3,000 km (1,864 miles), which makes it capable of striking very deep into enemy territory.
Its warhead is very powerful — around 1,150 kilograms — which gives it strong destructive ability.
For guidance, it uses GPS / GNSS systems, supported by inertial navigation (INS), making it fairly accurate.
The Flamingo missile is also quite fast for a cruise missile, with a cruise speed reported at 850-900 km/h, and a top speed around 950 km/h.
Production and Use
Ukraine says it will start mass production of the Flamingo missile soon. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said production should begin around January–February 2026.
According to Fire Point, production is already ongoing.
This is reportedly the first confirmed combat use of the Flamingo by Ukraine, marking a major step in its military capability.
Zelenskyy previously praised the missile as “the most successful” in Ukraine’s current arsenal.
Why This Matters
The strike shows that Ukraine has a very long-range strike capability, which can reach well beyond the front lines.
By hitting oil facilities, radar installations, and command centers, Ukraine could be significantly hurting Russia’s military and economic infrastructure.
The ability to strike deep behind enemy lines may give Ukraine a stronger strategic position as the war continues
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