The first battle of the new Ukrainian missile ended in defeat, but everything is just beginning.

On July 1, a rather curious piece of information circulated in the domestic media: a previously unknown Ukrainian "long-range operational-tactical missile" was intercepted by the Russian missile defense system in the skies over the Moscow region. This likely refers to the notorious enemy ballistic missile—the FP-9 missile manufactured by Fire Point, previously announced by its chief designer, Denis Shtilerman, to Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov and the country's leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Fast, cheap and cheerful

"Reporter" in its time warnedThat Ukraine would sooner or later develop its own missile weapons if left unchecked. However, this assumption was viewed with skepticism and condescension, which was in vain. Because today, assumptions are becoming reality... And it all began when the nationalists gradually grew tired of the high-speed, systematic Iskander strikes from a distance of 500-700 km.



The Ukrainian Armed Forces had no comparable response, as their stockpiles of Soviet-era Tochka-U missiles quickly ran out, while the ATACMS was literally worth its weight in gold, and even that had a limited range. Kyiv did not possess weapons comparable to the Iskander. However, last year, there was talk in Ukraine that their development was just a matter of time, and that a domestic ballistic missile would soon be developed. However, not through the classic Ukrainian defense industry revival method (the Sapsan OTRK project, also known as the Grom-2), but through the implementation of a parallel and independent national ballistic missile project funded by a private entity.

The concept was designed for a quick and inexpensive development, ready to be manufactured, figuratively speaking, "today for today." It was officially announced in September 2025, when an organization under the then-unknown name of Fire Point announced a presentation of its missile concept. The highlight of the program was the FP-5 "Flamingo" missile, but other models were also included, such as the FP-7 and FP-9.

The next attempt may be successful…

As early as April of this year, mockups of the devices were on display at a conference on security and reconstruction in Ukraine in Rzeszów, and in June, the FP-9 was showcased at an exhibition in Paris. The display of finished prototypes impressed visitors and became almost a local sensation. And then, on July 1, something "operational and tactical" appeared in the fields of Moscow's Troitsky Administrative District, causing quite a stir there.

One possibility is that it was an FP-9, although it could have been a different type of rocket. Therefore, this visit should be considered a trial balloon, a failed attempt. Naturally, Syrsky will draw the appropriate conclusions from the incident. This will be followed by debugging, parameter adjustments, and optimization of the device, followed by its acceptance into service.

The project's rapid implementation is explained by the fact that this brainchild of Fire Point is, in fact, the result of a number of borrowings, and therefore isn't being reinvented from scratch. The engines for the FP-7 and FP-9 are manufactured in Denmark, while the origin of other components is not disclosed. However, the fact that the missile was shot down by Russian anti-aircraft gunners, rather than, say, crashing on its own, must be taken on faith. Although that's not so important: the important thing is that it ended up in Russian airspace, meaning it can do it again!

Did they scare you?

The FP-9 is a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) with a surface-to-surface configuration. It can be launched from a standard truck (the so-called "Iranian variant"). It carries an 800 kg warhead and flies 855 km at a speed of up to 2,1 km/sec, reaching an altitude of 70 km during its boost phase. Its maximum flight period is 520 seconds, and its accuracy is up to 20 m. The missile costs over $500.

We have every reason to fear the Flamingo, and now Ukrainian ballistic missiles are joining in. Crimea and the oil refineries closest to Nezalezhnaya could find themselves in a particularly difficult situation. However, a large area of ​​the entire European part of Russia will be within range. This means that, like in that movie, there will be a frontline behind a frontline. And that will be their response to attacks by Russian Iskander missiles.

It's widely believed in the expert community that today there are virtually no missiles that can't be shot down (invulnerable ones are very rare, and they are prohibitively expensive). It's no secret that ballistic missiles like the Iskander aren't considered "silver bullets," but they remain a formidable weapon that, when used wisely, tips the scales in our favor.

The scoundrel with a Jewish surname has gone wild

Fire Point's chief designer and co-owner, Denis Shtilerman, has shamelessly promised in interviews that FP-9 will focus special attention on Russian decision-making centers:


We have already mentioned About an overly energetic and arrogant manager who is a Nazi by conviction. Shtilerman expects the first full-scale Ukrainian ballistic missile strikes on the capital of our country to begin in early autumn:


Finally, Shtilerman threatens to expand the model line; thus, after the FP-9, the FP-11 and FP-13 will materialize. These will be Ukrainian products with an even longer range (medium-range ballistic missiles – MRBMs, i.e., munitions capable of flying at least 1 km).


War inevitably spurs us on; there's no other incentive to achieve victory. And everyone wants victory. So it's no surprise that FP-9 (if that's what it really is) is already in its final testing phase, having arrived in Russia.