Ukraine Confirms Successful Strikes on Russian Votkinsk Plant with Flamingo Missiles
Ukraine has confirmed that all FP-5 Flamingo cruise missiles launched during a recent strike on the Votkinsk plant in Russia reached their intended target, demonstrating the “high quality and accuracy” of the domestically produced weapon. The confirmation came from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a press conference with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in Kyiv.
Details of the Strike and Missile Performance
Zelenskyy refrained from disclosing the exact number of Flamingo missiles used in the February 20th strike, but stated that despite some interceptions by Russian air defense systems, all launched missiles successfully hit the Votkinsk plant. “I won’t say how many Flamingos were hit this time. I just want to say: there were downings by Russian air defense, there were non-shootings and there were clear hits. But the most critical thing is that all the missiles that came out all reached the object. I believe that this is the most important success, that is, we are talking about high quality and accuracy,” Zelenskyy said, according to Interfax-Ukraine.
Production Challenges and Future Plans
Zelenskyy too revealed that Russia is actively targeting Ukraine’s Flamingo production facilities, leading to delays in restoring the production line following previous attacks. Despite these challenges, Ukraine intends to increase missile production, contingent upon securing sufficient funding and obtaining necessary components.
Damage Assessment at Votkinsk Plant
Following the strike, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported a fire at the impact site and initiated an assessment of the damage. Satellite imagery analyzed by the OSINT project CyberBoroshno indicates significant damage to Building No. 19 of the Votkinsk plant, which houses a galvanizing and stamping workshop. The damage is estimated to be a “hole” measuring approximately 30 by 24 meters, with varying heights of 24 meters on one side and 18 meters on the other.
Flamingo Missile Development and Capabilities
The FP-5 Flamingo is a domestically produced Ukrainian cruise missile capable of carrying a warhead weighing over one tonne and reaching targets up to 3,000 kilometers away. Developed by Ukraine’s Fire Point defense company, the missile took less than nine months to move from concept to battlefield testing, according to Fire Point CEO and technical director Iryna Terekh.
Recent reports indicate that initial production faced technical hurdles, including difficulties achieving the desired low-altitude flight profile due to a lack of precise altitude maps of Russia. But, these issues appear to have been resolved, with the Flamingo now being actively deployed in strikes against Russian targets.
Recent Developments
Although initially facing production delays, Ukraine has recently increased its use of the Flamingo missile, targeting key Russian infrastructure. According to reports from February 25, 2026, the missile is now “really hitting its stride.”