Ex-Minister: Ukraine’s Homemade Ballistic Missiles Could Strike Russia in Months
Ukraine’s New Homegrown Ballistic Missiles: What You Need to Know
The Big News in Simple Terms
Important Point: Ukraine is developing its own ballistic missiles and could start using them against targets inside Russia within 3 to 6 months. This is a major shift because until now, Ukraine has mostly used slower drones and cruise missiles.
Why This Matters: The Missile Difference
Think of it like throwing different objects:
| Weapon Type | Speed | How Hard to Stop | Ukraine’s Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drones | Slow | Easy to spot and shoot down | Used heavily |
| Cruise Missiles | Medium | Easier to intercept | Used heavily |
| Ballistic Missiles | Super Fast | Very hard to stop | Now developing their own |
Russia has been firing ballistic missiles at Ukraine this whole time, and they’re really tough to shoot down. Now Ukraine wants the same capability to strike back.
The Timeline: How We Got Here
- June 2024 – Ukrainian company Fire Point successfully tested a ballistic missile
- Mid-July 2024 – President Zelenskyy fired Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov after a feud with General Oleksandr Syrskyi
- Late July 2024 – Protests erupted across Ukraine supporting Fedorov
- Days later – Zelenskyy also removed General Syrskyi
- Early August 2024 – Ukraine struck a Russian space facility 560 miles away using new "Flamingo" missiles
Who Is Mykhailo Fedorov?
- Age: 35 years old
- Background: Former tech entrepreneur (not a career politician)
- Role: Was Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation and briefly Defense Minister
- Achievements: Credited with:
- Increasing Ukraine’s deep strikes into Russia 10x
- Building up Ukraine’s domestic weapons industry
- Pushing drones and robots to fight a larger enemy
Key Quote from Fedorov: "We need to defeat Russia in every technological cycle, and we have to make decisions 24/7."
What Happened With the Firing?
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| The Conflict | Fedorov and General Syrskyi had an "irresolvable feud" |
| The Firing | Zelenskyy removed Fedorov in mid-July |
| Public Reaction | Thousands protested across Ukraine |
| The Follow-up | A week later, Zelenskyy also fired General Syrskyi |
| Fedorov’s Response | He declined to explain details to US audience but said: "Whatever the reason, it is important to understand that Ukraine will continue to fight." |
The Recent Strike: Proof It’s Working
On early Saturday, Zelenskyy announced Ukraine hit a Russian space agency facility in Samara — that’s 560 miles (900 km) from Ukraine’s border — using new Ukrainian-made "Flamingo" missiles.
This shows:
- Domestic missile production is real and operational
- Ukraine can now reach targets deep inside Russia
- The program Fedorov pushed is delivering results
Why Ballistic Missiles Are a Game Changer
For Ukraine:
- Faster strikes – Less time for Russia to react
- Harder to intercept – Overwhelms air defenses
- Domestic production – Not dependent on foreign supplies
- Strategic balance – Can finally match Russia’s missile threat
The Challenge:
- Russia is also innovating quickly
- This is a technology race happening 24/7
Summary
In a nutshell: Ukraine has moved from relying on donated weapons to building its own advanced missiles. Former tech-entrepreneur-turned-minister Mykhailo Fedorov drove this transformation, increasing deep strikes 10x. Despite his sudden firing (which sparked nationwide protests), the program continues — proven by a recent 560-mile strike using new "Flamingo" missiles. Within 3-6 months, Ukraine expects to field operational ballistic missiles, finally giving it a weapon that can match Russia’s speed and penetration capability.
FAQ
What’s the difference between a ballistic missile and a cruise missile?
Simple answer: A cruise missile flies like an airplane (straight, steady, steerable). A ballistic missile shoots up into space like a rocket, then falls down at extreme speed — like throwing a ball in a high arc. The ballistic one is much harder to stop.
Why was Fedorov fired if he was so successful?
Officially: a "feud" with General Syrskyi. Unofficially: the exact reasons aren’t public. Fedorov refused to discuss details with CBS. Interestingly, the general was fired a week later after massive protests.
Does this mean Ukraine can now hit Moscow?
Potentially yes. Samara is 560 miles away. Moscow is roughly 300 miles from the border. If the Flamingo missile hit Samara, it could theoretically reach Moscow — though political decisions about targets are separate from technical capability.
Are these missiles nuclear?
No. These are conventional (non-nuclear) ballistic missiles. Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons in the 1990s. These carry regular explosives.
Will Western countries support this?
Most Western allies have restricted Ukraine from using their long-range missiles deep inside Russia. But Ukraine using its own domestically-made missiles is a different category — it doesn’t violate those restrictions since they’re not donated weapons.
Article based on exclusive CBS News interview with former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, August 2024.