Ukraine has unveiled dramatic footage of its new long-range Flamingo missiles being launched against Russian targets, marking a significant escalation in its military capabilities. The devastating new weapons system, capable of reaching Moscow and beyond, represents a major technological breakthrough for Ukrainian forces.
Game-Changing Missile Technology
The newly deployed Flamingo missiles boast an impressive range of 1,865 miles and carry a substantial 2,535lb warhead, making them capable of striking deep inside European Russia and even western Siberia. Military analysts have likened the advanced rockets to unmanned jets, noting their sophisticated design and formidable destructive power.
Early morning footage released by Ukrainian forces showed the massive missiles soaring through night skies, their trajectories illuminated by bright orange lights from their propulsion systems. The timing of the video release coincided with reports of multiple strikes across Russian territory, demonstrating the weapon's immediate combat effectiveness.
Widespread Overnight Strikes
The missile deployments accompanied a coordinated assault on numerous Russian and occupied sites. In the Oryol region, residents witnessed a mysterious shower of fiery balls descending from the sky near a power plant, while in Nizhnekamsk, the major Teneko oil refinery was set ablaze.
One witness described the terrifying moment: "I turned to the window and saw a huge light, like someone was shining a torch through the window, and then BAM." Another local reported damage to vehicles from the glowing balls falling over residential areas, with trees catching fire near a kindergarten.
Additional strikes targeted Putin-controlled Crimea, where the Morskoy Neftyanoy Oil Terminal and a helicopter site were hit along with radar systems near Yevpatoria. Drone storage and preparation facilities at Kirovske airfield were also destroyed in the coordinated attacks.
Strategic Military Impact
The Flamingo missile represents the centrepiece of Ukraine's indigenous weapons development programme, specifically designed to counter Russia's ongoing invasion. Crucially, the system is not subject to Western vetoes that restrict the use of missiles supplied by the US, Britain and France against targets inside Russia.
Reports indicate serial production of the missile is underway in the Carpathian Mountains, with its first combat use occurring during summer months. The weapon is reportedly resistant to Russian electronic warfare jamming, giving it a significant advantage over other systems.
Russian sources have described the Flamingo as resembling the Soviet jet UAV Tu-143 Reys and the German cruise missile V-1, highlighting its hybrid design combining features of both unmanned aircraft and traditional missiles.
In Zaporizhzhia, Ukrainian forces successfully hit forward command posts of the enemy's 5th Combined Arms Army and the 127th Motor Rifle Division, along with an oil depot near Berdyansk. These strikes demonstrate the comprehensive nature of Ukraine's overnight offensive operations.
