Ukraine has reportedly begun serial production of a domestically produced cruise missile with a range of 3,000 km.

The Flamingo cruise missile, produced by Ukrainian defense company Fire Point, was photographed on Thursday by Associated Press photojournalist Efrem Lukatsky at the company's secret workshop.Official technical specifications have not yet been disclosed, and the Ukrainian military has not yet commented on when the Flamingo missiles will enter regular service.

This move shows that Kiev is increasingly focusing on domestic weapons production due to delays in Western arms deliveries amid Russia's escalating attacks.In November 2024, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine had produced its first 100 missiles. Since then, Kiev has increased its domestic weapons production. 

In April, Zelenskyy said that more than 40% of the weapons used on the front lines are now produced in Ukraine, including more than 95% of the unmanned aerial vehicles used in combat.The Flamingo missile, reported to have a payload capacity of 1,000 kg, is aimed at strengthening Kiev's ability to launch deep strikes into Russia's interior in the face of Moscow's ongoing attacks.

This development is seen as part of Kiev's strategy to prioritize domestic production in the face of delays in weapons supplies from the West. (lLKHA)