{
  "id": 7488156,
  "title": "Ukraine wants homegrown missiles capable of striking deep inside Russia, including Moscow, but its existing ‘Flamingos’ show how hard mass production can be",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/ukraine-wants-homegrown-missiles-capable-of-striking-deep-inside",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-15T06:18:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Meduza (English)",
    "slug": "meduza-english",
    "url": "https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/09/15/ukraine-wants-homegrown-missiles-capable-of-striking-deep-inside-russia-including-moscow-but-its-existing-flamingos-show-how-hard-mass-production-can-be"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ukraine is seeking to develop its own missiles capable of striking deep within Russia, including targets like Moscow, according to a September 11 report by Fire Point, Ukraine's leading manufacturer of long-range strike weapons. The company claims it could produce up to three new medium-range missiles, the FP-9, per day with sufficient funding, potentially significantly enhancing Ukraine's ability to target Russian military installations.\n\nHowever, Ukraine's current missile program faces significant challenges. The company has encountered issues with production organization, particularly securing engines, and the effectiveness of the new ballistic missiles in combat against Russian air defenses remains uncertain. Ukraine's reliance on missiles is driven by the limitations of drones, which while inexpensive and easily producible, suffer from low speed, limited payload, and vulnerability to air defenses. Drones' small warheads and slow speed render them ineffective against reinforced structures and against the high-cost Russian air defense systems.\n\nUkraine's need for missiles is underscored by the financial strain of the war and the high costs of drone production. The Ukrainian military budget shortfall of $27 billion necessitates substantial Western support. While Russia is investing heavily in drone production, Ukraine requires a diverse arsenal of missiles with varying ranges and payloads to effectively strike military targets in Russia. This includes short-range weapons for targets behind Russian lines and medium-range weapons to reach deep into enemy territory. Despite Western countries' capacity to provide such weapons, the decision to supply Ukraine rests with these nations, not the Ukrainian government.",
  "summary": "On September 11, Fire Point, Ukraine’s leading manufacturer of long-range strike weapons, said it was ready to supply the military with the FP-7 short-range ballistic missile. The FP-7 is intended to replace — or supplement — the well-known ATACMS. Fire Point is also continuing to test the medium-range FP-9, a type of missile Ukraine does not currently possess. The company says that “with…",
  "key_points": [
    "Ukraine aims to produce homegrown missiles to strike deep inside Russia, including Moscow.",
    "FP-9 medium-range missiles could be produced up to three per day with sufficient funding.",
    "Current missile program faces challenges in production organization and combat effectiveness."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Ukraine's push for homegrown missiles capable of hitting deep into Russia signals a strategic shift to counter Russian air defenses and overcome the limitations of its drone arsenal.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 10,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Mainichi",
        "title": "Zelenskyy says Ukraine will pause strikes on Russia if Kremlin spares critical infrastructure",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/zelenskyy-says-ukraine-will-pause-strikes-on-russia-if-kremlin-spares",
        "published": "2026-09-15T01:30:06.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "National Post",
        "title": "Zelenskyy says Ukraine is ready for ‘de-escalatory steps’ if Russia does the same",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/zelenskyy-says-ukraine-is-ready-for-de-escalatory-steps-if-russia",
        "published": "2026-09-15T01:34:12.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "3 men from western UP go missing in Russia, kin say forced to fight in Ukraine",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/3-men-from-western-up-go-missing-in-russia-kin-say-forced-to-fight-in",
        "published": "2026-09-15T05:49:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "Russia, Ukraine agree to stop attacks on energy facilities – Trump",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/russia-ukraine-agree-to-stop-attacks-on-energy-facilities-trump",
        "published": "2026-09-15T05:56:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Interfax-Ukraine",
        "title": "Zelenskyy: Ukraine ready for de-escalation steps if US ensures Russia's genuine readiness to end war",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/zelenskyy-ukraine-ready-for-de-escalation-steps-if-us-ensures-russias",
        "published": "2026-09-15T06:15:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Zelenskyy says Ukraine will pause strikes on Russia if Kremlin spares critical infrastructure",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/zelenskyy-says-ukraine-will-pause-strikes-on-russia-if-kremlin-spares-7488885",
        "published": "2026-09-15T06:32:04.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Kyiv Independent",
        "title": "General Staff: Russia has lost 1,510,000 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/general-staff-russia-has-lost-1-510-000-troops-in-ukraine-since-feb",
        "published": "2026-09-15T06:32:12.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Egypt Independent",
        "title": "Trump says Ukraine and Russia agreed to stop targeting energy sites, but Kyiv calls it a ‘proposal for a mutual halt’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/trump-says-ukraine-and-russia-agreed-to-stop-targeting-energy-sites",
        "published": "2026-09-15T07:36:38.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Euronews",
        "title": "No, the EU isn't demanding that Ukraine mobilise women against Russia's invasion",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/no-the-eu-isnt-demanding-that-ukraine-mobilise-women-against-russias",
        "published": "2026-09-15T08:24:06.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}