Ex-Defense Minister: Ukraine to Strike Russia with Domestic Missiles in Months
Ukraine’s New Homemade Ballistic Missiles: What You Need to Know
The Big News: Ukraine Building Its Own Ballistic Missiles
Imagine two kids playing catch, but one kid has a super-fast pitcher that the other kid can barely see coming. That’s kind of what’s happening between Russia and Ukraine right now—except instead of baseballs, we’re talking about missiles.
Ukraine just announced it will soon have its very own "super-fast pitcher": domestically-made ballistic missiles.
Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov told CBS News in an exclusive interview that Ukraine could start striking Russian territory with these homegrown weapons within 3 to 6 months. He believes the first launch could happen before the end of this year.
Key Point: This would be a major shift—Ukraine would no longer have to rely only on weapons given by other countries. They’re building their own.
Why Ballistic Missiles Matter (And How They’re Different)
You might be wondering: Doesn’t Ukraine already hit targets inside Russia? Yes, but with different tools. Here’s the simple breakdown:
| Weapon Type | Speed | How Hard to Stop | What Ukraine Uses Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long-range drones | Slow (like a car on highway) | Easier to spot and shoot down | Yes, lots of them |
| Cruise missiles | Medium (like a fast jet) | Moderate difficulty | Yes |
| Ballistic missiles | Extremely fast (space-fast!) | Very hard to stop | Not yet—but coming soon! |
Think of it like this:
- Drones = A paper airplane you can see coming from far away
- Cruise missiles = A fast drone that flies low and sneaky
- Ballistic missiles = A rock shot from a slingshot into space, then falling down at hypersonic speed (5x speed of sound or faster!)
Russia has been using ballistic missiles against Ukraine for a long time, and Ukraine’s air defenses struggle to stop them. Now Ukraine wants to return the favor.
The Timeline: When Will They Be Ready?
Here’s the step-by-step progress so far:
- June 2024 — Fire Point (one of Ukraine’s biggest defense companies) tested a ballistic missile successfully
- Now — Fedorov says the program accelerated during his time as minister
- Next 3–6 months — Production and deployment expected
- By end of 2024 — First strike on Russian territory possible, per Fedorov
Important: Fedorov said: "We need to defeat Russia in every technological cycle, and we have to make decisions 24/7."
Translation: Speed matters. Both sides are innovating fast.
Who Is Mykhailo Fedorov?
He’s not your typical general. Here’s his resume in plain English:
- Age: 35 (very young for this job!)
- Background: Tech entrepreneur — he built companies before the war
- Role: Former Minister of Digital Transformation → Former Defense Minister
- Big wins:
- Helped Ukraine turn to drones and robots to fight a bigger enemy
- Increased deep strikes into Russia 10x (ten times more!)
- Built up Ukraine’s domestic weapons industry
He’s the guy who said: "Let’s not just buy weapons—let’s build them ourselves."
The Political Drama: Fired, Protests, and More Changes
Here’s where it gets messy. Mid-July 2024, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy fired Fedorov.
Why?
Zelenskyy said there was an "irresolvable feud" between Fedorov and General Oleksandr Syrskyi (Ukraine’s top military commander at the time).
What happened next?
- Thousands of Ukrainians protested across the country — they liked Fedorov
- About a week later, Zelenskyy also fired General Syrskyi
- Fedorov refused to explain why he thinks he was fired to American audiences, but said:
"Whatever the reason, it is important to understand that Ukraine will continue to fight."
The protests showed something important:
Fedorov said they prove Ukrainians support democratic values and are fighting for their freedom — not just following orders.
Recent Success: The Samara Strike
Just days ago (early August), President Zelenskyy posted on social media that Ukraine struck a Russian space agency facility in Samara — 560 miles (900 km) from the border!
- Weapon used: New Ukrainian-made "Flamingo" missiles
- Significance: This shows Ukraine’s long-range strike capability is already growing, even before the ballistic missiles are ready
What This Means for the War
| Before Ballistic Missiles | After Ballistic Missiles |
|---|---|
| Ukraine hits back with slower, easier-to-stop weapons | Ukraine can hit fast, hard, and unpredictably |
| Russia’s air defenses have time to react | Russia gets minutes or seconds of warning |
| Ukraine depends on foreign supplies for long-range strikes | Ukraine has its own sovereign strike capability |
| Russia attacks with ballistic missiles unanswered in kind | Deterrence: Russia knows Ukraine can strike back the same way |
Bottom line: This levels the technological playing field. It’s not about winning a missile-for-missile contest—it’s about making Russia think twice before launching its own.
Summary: The 5 Things to Remember
- Ukraine is building its own ballistic missiles — not just using drones and cruise missiles anymore
- They could be used against Russia within 3–6 months (possibly by year’s end)
- Ballistic missiles are much harder to shoot down — they go to the edge of space and fall back at hypersonic speed
- Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov (a 35-year-old tech entrepreneur) drove this program — but was fired in July amid political drama
- Ukraine already hit a target 560 miles inside Russia with new "Flamingo" missiles — showing rapid progress
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
Q: What exactly is a ballistic missile?
A: Think of it like a really big bottle rocket. It launches up into space (or near-space), then gravity pulls it down toward its target at incredible speeds — often Mach 5 or faster (5x the speed of sound). Because it comes down so fast and steep, air defense systems have very little time to react.
Q: Why does Ukraine need its own missiles if allies give them weapons?
A: Three reasons:
- No strings attached — Ukraine decides when and where to strike
- Unlimited supply — They can build as many as their factories allow
- Faster upgrades — They can improve designs in weeks, not years
Q: Was Fedorov fired because he was doing a bad job?
A: No evidence suggests that. In fact, he’s credited with massive successes (10x more deep strikes, drone revolution, domestic missile program). His firing appeared to be political — a clash with the top general. Thousands of Ukrainians protested his removal, showing public support.
Q: Could this escalate the war?
A: It changes the calculus. Russia can no longer fire ballistic missiles at Ukraine without fear of the same in return. This is called deterrence — like two people holding knives; neither wants to strike first because they’ll get cut too. Most analysts say this stabilizes the situation long-term.
Q: What’s the "Flamingo" missile Zelenskyy mentioned?
A: It’s a new Ukrainian-made cruise missile (not ballistic) that just hit a target 560 miles away in Samara, Russia. It proves Ukraine’s missile industry is already working — the ballistic missiles are the next, even more powerful step.
Final Thought: Ukraine isn’t just surviving — it’s innovating. From a tech startup founder turned defense minister, to underground factories building missiles that can reach Moscow… this is asymmetric warfare at its smartest. The kid with the slingshot just learned how to make heat-seeking rocks.