Watch: Ukraine strikes Russian weapons plant with FP-5 Flamingo missiles. What are these 3,000-km strike weapons?

Ukraine on Saturday claimed that its domestically developed FP-5 Flamingo long-range missiles struck a key Russian defence manufacturing facility in the Volgograd region overnight, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying the attack triggered a fire at a plant producing artillery systems and components for missile launchers.In a post on Telegram, Zelenskyy said, "Every Russian defense facility that serves the war against Ukraine is a just target for our long-range sanctions."He added, "Last night, FP-5 Flamingo missiles successfully struck the Titan-Barrikady facility in Volgograd. It is a major industrial complex where the enemy produces artillery systems and specialized military equipment, including components for missile launch systems used in attacks against our people.

Confirmed strikes were followed by a fire on the plant's premises. I thank the warriors of our Defense Forces for their precision.

"According to Ukrainian officials, the Titan-Barrikady plant is one of Russia's key defence enterprises. It manufactures launchers for the Yars and Topol-M strategic missile systems, as well as launchers for the Iskander-M tactical ballistic missile system.Russian authorities have not officially acknowledged the reported missile strike.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine would continue expanding its long-range strike capability."The reach of Ukraine's long-range sanctions continues to expand. And it is precisely our pressure, day after day, that lays the groundwork for a dignified peace in the end. I am grateful to every Ukrainian engineer and warrior who is making our long-range capabilities possible. Glory to Ukraine!" he wrote.Denys Shtilerman, co-founder of Ukrainian missile and drone manufacturer Fire Point, also shared a video purportedly showing explosions in Volgograd."Volgograd is welcoming the seasonal migration of Flamingos from Ukraine. More to come..." he wrote.Open source monitoring outlet Astra later reported that its OSINT analysis showed smoke rising from the Titan-Barrikady military plant following the reported strike."The plant manufactures launchers for Russia's strategic missile systems," Astra said.Meanwhile, Russia's Defence Ministry said it had intercepted 175 Ukrainian drones over 10 Russian regions and occupied Crimea overnight but made no mention of any missile strike on the Volgograd facility.What are FP-5 Flamingo missiles?The FP-5 Flamingo is a ground-launched long-range unmanned cruise missile system developed by Ukrainian defence company Fire Point Technology. The system is designed to strike fixed ground targets deep inside enemy territory while operating in contested electronic warfare environments.According to Fire Point Technology, the missile can carry a combat payload of up to 1,150 kilograms and strike targets at distances of up to 3,000 kilometres, making it one of Ukraine's longest-range indigenous strike systems.The company says the FP-5 is capable of operating even in areas affected by active electronic warfare, a key requirement on today's battlefield where GPS jamming and electronic interference have become commonplace.Specifications published by Fire Point show the missile has a maximum speed of 950 km/h and cruises between 700 and 900 km/h. It can remain airborne for up to four hours and operate at altitudes ranging from just 20 metres above the ground to as high as 10 kilometres.The FP-5 has a maximum take-off weight of 6,000 kilograms, a wingspan of seven metres and requires between 20 and 40 minutes of launch preparation before becoming operational.The reported strike comes just days after Fire Point announced plans to accelerate the development of a European missile defence system in partnership with German radar manufacturer Hensoldt. The two companies recently signed a memorandum of understanding to integrate Hensoldt's TRML-4D radar with Fire Point's interceptor programme, marking another step in Ukraine's expanding indigenous missile and defence industry.