“As part of systematic actions aimed at reducing the offensive potential of the Russian aggressor, units of the Ukrainian defense forces attacked the warehouse of missiles, ammunition and explosives of the Main Missile and Artillery Administration of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation in the Volgograd region. This arsenal is one of the largest places where ammunition of the Russian army is stored,” reads the statement of the General Staff of Ukraine.
Kiev used one of its newest weapons for the attack – the slightly controversial FP-5 cruise missile, which hit the Kremlin's missile range just a week ago. There is also interesting information from the front from the Zaporozhye Oblast, where Ukraine has thrown the best Western equipment into battle, carrying out an offensive… which is not really a classic attempt to break Russian lines. Kyiv has a different goal in this operation.
Ukrainian super missile in the shadow of controversy
The FP-5 Flaming is a missile that looks really impressive on paper. Revealed in August 2025, the weapon boasts a range of 3,000 km and a warhead weighing over one ton, and according to unofficial information, it entered service last fall, targeting Russia's oil refineries. The first official attack using the weapon came just a week ago, when an FP-5 struck the Kapustin Yar test site, where Russia is testing its newest Oreshnik ballistic missile.
The FP-5 is giganticEfrem Lukatsky/Associated Press/East News
However, the attack on a key Kremlin facility turned out to be quite a disappointment. From what we know, the missile caused only minimal damage, which is surprising considering its powerful warhead. However, the attack on the Russian arsenal seems to be much more effective. The recordings show a powerful glow at the site of the attack, suggesting that the flamingo successfully completed its mission this time. Perhaps this was also due to the fact that at least five such missiles were to take part in the strike.
This does not change the fact that the FP-5, as well as its manufacturer, Fire Point, is a slightly controversial topic in Ukraine itself. This is noted, among others, by: Ukrainian website Euromaidan Press. In making such a thesis, he refers to last year's investigation into allegations of inflating the prices of weapons produced by this concern or reports of the alleged sale of part of the company's shares to foreign investors from the United Arab Emirates. And this is a country that maintains close, even friendly contacts with Putin.
Ukrainian media also point out that the successful attack on the Russian ammunition depot, which was certainly under heavy protection of anti-aircraft systems, may suggest that the FP-5 is constantly being improved and may already be able to penetrate Russian anti-aircraft defenses. This was one of the main question marks surrounding this arsenal. The huge, 6-ton missile initially had no stealth featuresand its powerful engine made it rather easy to detect by Russian radars.
This month, however, Fire Point announced that the flamingo has gained the ability to fly at very low altitudes of 30-50 m, thanks to which it can effectively bypass anti-aircraft defense and electronic warfare systems. This is probably about integrating the missile with a special TERCOM (Terrain Contour Matching) system, which allows navigation by comparing the terrain profile with maps. This ensures that the missile is precisely aimed at the target without having to rely on the GPS signal, which is susceptible to jamming. Fire Point also announced that the missile's hull is now manufactured from composite materials, which gives it some features of reduced radar detection.
If the FP-5 has indeed undergone such significant improvements, we will probably find out about it in the coming weeks. We are currently talking about the most powerful cruise missile in Ukraine's forces, which will certainly be used for further attacks on Russian territory.
A new offensive by Ukraine? Not really
The Russian army is currently experiencing a bit of communication paralysis. After the Russian Starlink terminals, used in the war against our neighbor, were disabled by Elon Musk, the Russians faced further technological problems related to the non-working Telegram messenger. This application is an extremely important element coordinating the activities of Putin's forces, and the Ukrainian command decided to take advantage of all this confusion.
Kiev decided that the technical problems of the Russians were a great opportunity to stabilize the situation on the south-eastern section of the front, in the Zaporizhia Oblast, among others. in the area of the important town of Hulajpole. Ukraine is attacking there in nine directions and has deployed its best formations supported by Abrams M1A1 tanks, which have just arrived at the front from Australia and Swedish armored personnel carriers. Interestingly, our neighbor's goal is not to break Russian positions. Euromaidan Press writes:
Instead, a powerful force in the form of Ukrainian assault units, supported by American tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and Swedish personnel carriers, is trying to clear a wide strip of no man's land in the Zaporozhye region of Russian infiltrating units. The idea is to create new, stronger defensive positions there, thus preparing for the Russian offensive expected in the coming weeks.
The Russians are allegedly preparing for a major spring offensivethe chance to stabilize the historically unstable south-eastern section of the front may prove crucial in stopping the Kremlin's new, major attack. If Moscow is indeed preparing a major operation, it is probably waiting for the weather conditions to improve, so Ukraine still has some time to take advantage of the communication problems in the Russian army and prepare well for a potential spring attack by the Kremlin.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
