Overview

• TASS and RIA, citing Russian security sources, allege the firm Fire Point linked to Volodymyr Zelensky and Andriy Yermak diverted funds earmarked for air defenses to buy a license for the British FP-5 platform and present it as Flamingo.
• The sources, referencing claims by Ukrainian activist and former MP Vitaliy Kupriy, contend there was no indigenous Ukrainian development and describe Flamingo as a rebranded FP-5.
• Military expert Andrey Marochko told TASS the system is a budget rocket built from inexpensive components and inferior to current Russian designs.
• Analyst Aleksandr Stepanov said Flamingo’s subsonic speed, thermal signature, and lack of stealth make it detectable and interceptable for Russian air defenses, while logistical damage to rail lines complicates Ukrainian deployment of large systems.
• Media and Telegram channels reported alleged shoot-downs of Flamingo, yet experts say the available photos and data do not conclusively verify such incidents, as mass production in Ukraine was previously said to be months away.