The Economist, citing sources in Kyiv, reports that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are now using domestically produced Flamingo missiles for strikes inside Russian territory. Ukraine currently manufactures two to three of these missiles per day, with intentions to scale up production to seven per day.
These missiles carry a 150 kg warhead and feature high speed and low flight altitude—just 50 meters above ground—making them difficult to intercept. With a range of up to 3,000 km, they can strike strategic targets deep within Russia.
If Ukraine achieves mass production and maintains regular strikes that penetrate Russian air defenses, this could alter the course of the conflict. Such a capability allows Kyiv to strike independently, without relying on Western-supplied weapons or permissions.
A shift to a prolonged war of attrition could drive changes not only on the battlefield but also in political and diplomatic approaches. Damage to Russian infrastructure could trigger energy shortages and disrupt key defense and oil industries, forcing Russia's leadership to reconsider the war's costs.
According to Vitalii Portnikov, only significant economic and demographic losses might push Moscow towards ending the conflict. Thus, the Flamingo missiles could become a key factor in shifting the balance of power and shaping diplomatic outcomes.
The deeper the impact on the Russian population, the greater the likelihood of a political settlement. Access to modern, domestically produced missiles may have major implications for the years ahead.
