Ukrainian-made ballistic missiles could hit Russia in the fall, Zelensky says
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President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed earlier reports that ballistic missiles being developed by Ukrainian company Fire Point could be combat-ready in the space of 2-3 months, in an interview with Ukraine's state-run telethon on the evening of Aug. 8.
Fire Point told Reuters on Aug. 4 that its FP7 ballistic missile is being certified by Ukraine's defense ministry, a process expected to be complete within the month. They also said they expect their larger FP9 missile, ostensibly capable of reaching Moscow, to be ready by late fall.
"As for their large-scale use, I can’t say, because some things do not depend on Ukraine. It is the same with Russian ballistic missiles: they contain components from other countries. The same applies to our ballistic missiles — there are few such components, but some do come from other countries," Zelensky said.
Despite sanctions, EU materials and equipment continue to find their way into the production of Russian military hardware.
A variant of Fire Point's FP7 ballistic missile is being fashioned into an anti-ballistic missile akin to the U.S. Patriot system, in collaboration with nine European partner countries under the Freya program.
The company aims to carry out its first successful ballistic missile interception by mid-2027, its CEO Iryna Terekh told Reuters.
Fire Point is primarily known for its middle- and deep-strike drones FP-1 and FP-2, which have been described as crucial to Ukraine's war effort. Since last year, however, the company has become embroiled in several controversies, including Ukraine’s largest wartime corruption scandal, prompting questions about possible preferential treatment in the awarding of state contracts.
According to a Kyiv Independent investigation published in August 2025, Fire Point could have ties to Timur Mindich, a close associate of Zelensky.
Those findings were later supported by law enforcement actions and leaked tapes that allegedly show Mindich personally leading negotiations with state officials on Fire Point's behalf.
The tapes were allegedly recorded as part of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine's probe into corruption schemes involving Energoatom, Ukraine's state nuclear agency. Mindich is among the nine suspects charged in the case.
Fire Point has denied any connection to Mindich, who fled to Israel. In a comment to Ukrainska Pravda, Mindich likewise denied any connection to the company.
