When a Ukrainian drone attacked an ammunition warehouse in Russia last September, it introduced Kiev Decision to hit deep behind the enemy’s line And his skills in the defense industry.
The moment was particularly satisfying for the woman responsible for the manufacture of drones that flew over 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) to carry out this mission. For the next few months, Russia no longer had the means to catch up Devastating Glide Bomb Attack Like something that just targeted her hometown of Kalkiv city.
“At this point, there is the only asymmetrical advantage on the battlefield. We don’t have as many talent and money as they have,” said Iryna Terekh, production manager at the time of the fire.
Workers will inspect flamingo cruise missiles at a secret factory in Fire Point, Ukraine on Monday, August 18, 2025 (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Telek has investigated dozens of “deep drones” that have recently emerged from the assembly line and said it will soon be used by the Ukrainian troops to attack the Kremlin war machinery and economically crucial weapons depots, oil refineries and other targets.
That’s spurring Existential Battle with Russia – and limited military aid from Western allies – Ukraine quickly became a global centre Defense innovation. The goal is to match Russia’s capabilities, if not appearance. And FirePoint is one of the leading companies.
The Associated Press was given an exclusive look to one of the dozens of secret factories in Fire Point. In a vast warehouse with rock music thuds, executives showed off their signature FP-1 explosive drone, which could travel up to 1,600 kilometers (994 miles). They also promoted the first time a cruise missile that can travel 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles) and hopes that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be mass-produced by the end of the year.
As President of the United States Donald Trump 3 I push it to end the war for a year and a half – and hang the outlook for US support Security Guarantees like NATO – The Ukrainian Defense Secretary says their country is determined to become more self-sufficient in deterring Russia.
“We believe that our best assurance is not to rely on someone else’s will to protect us, but on our ability to protect ourselves,” said Arsen Zumadyrov, head of the country’s arms procurement agency.
The Ukrainian government currently purchases approximately $10 billion in weapons per year from domestic manufacturers. The industry has three times the capacity to sell, and we believe sales to European allies will help them reach such a possibility for years.
Drone innovations have inevitably grown
Like most Ukrainian defense companies, Firepoint inevitably grew after a full-scale Russian invasion in 2022. Despite pleas from Ukrainian military officials, the Western countries did not want to allow Kiev to use their allies’ long-range weapons to attack targets deep in Russian territory.
That’s when a group of experts from various fields set out to mass-produce cheap drones that could fit the efficacy of the Iranian Shahed drones that Russia had fired on Ukraine with devastating consequences.
Workers will inspect combat drones at Fire Point’s Secret Factory in Ukraine on Monday, August 18, 2025 (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
The company’s founder spoke with the Associated Press on condition of anonymity due to concerns about his safety and the safety of the factory.
By bringing together knowledge from construction, game design and architecture, the founder of the company, who has no background in defense, came up with a novel design for drones that can fly even more accurately than most products already on the market. Their long-range drones had another advantage. They didn’t have to take off the aircraft.
When the Telek (architect) was hired in the summer of 2023, she was given the goal of producing 30 drones a month. Currently, the company costs around $100 per day, each costing $55,000.
The FP-1 looks more like a rushed science project than one that deploys the production line of the world’s largest defense contractors. “We removed unnecessary, flashy and glittering things,” she said.
However, the FP-1 is extremely effective on the battlefield.
According to Telek, 60 kilograms (132 pounds) of explosives weighing 60 kilograms (132 pounds) makes them responsible for 60% of strikes deep in Russian territory. These strikes helped slow Russia’s advance along the 1,000-kilometer (620 miles long) frontline of eastern Ukraine.
“I think the best drones, or the best drones, are Ukrainian drones,” said Claude Chenuyle, a former French military official who currently works for a trade group focused on defense. “When the war in Ukraine ends, they will flood the market.”
Ukraine is becoming a “Silicon Valley” defense
The story of Fire Point is not entirely unique. Shortly after Russia’s 2022 invasion, hundreds of defense companies sprouted almost overnight. The Ukrainian government encouraged innovation by relaxing regulations and making it easier for startups to work directly with military brigades.
Patriotic entrepreneurs in metallurgy, construction and information technology have focused on drones and built facilities to study and manufacture weapons and munitions. The ongoing war allowed them to test their ideas almost immediately on the battlefield and quickly adapt to changes in Russian tactics.
Workers will carry some of the combat drones at a secret factory in Fire Point, Ukraine on Thursday, August 14th, 2025 (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
“Ukraine is in this very unique moment, which is becoming virtually a Silicon Valley for defense,” said Ukrainian Defense entrepreneur Yaroslav Aznyuk. “The biggest strategic asset we have is that we have been at war with Russia for 11 years.”
A proper case: Firepoint initially procured navigation equipment for drones from major Western companies, but eventually Russia was able to use electronic warfare to disrupt effectiveness. Therefore, Fire Point has developed its own software to outperform its enemies.
Because defense companies are high-value targets in Russia, many are underground or hidden within civil centers to avoid detection. They are protected by air defense, but the strategy has the disadvantage of putting civilians at risk. Many Ukrainians died in illegal Russian attacks, which are likely targeting weapons facilities. The entrepreneur said the option is to openly run and face attacks that retreat war efforts.
Drone supply will not last long
On the day the Associated Press visited Fire Point Factory, there were dozens of drones waiting for delivery. All of them disappeared within 72 hours and were shipped to the battlefield of inconspicuous cargo trucks.
The Fire Point team received regular feedback from Army units, and the company reinvested most of its profits quickly towards innovation to keep pace with other drone manufacturers. Increasingly, these benefits are being directed to develop new, more powerful weapons.
This year, the company completed testing of its first cruise missile, the FP-5. Traveling 3,000 km (1,864 miles) and landing within 14 meters (45 feet) of its target, the FP-5 is one of the world’s largest missiles and offers a payload of 1,150 kilograms (2,535 pounds). Early versions of the missile appeared in pink after the factory error, so they called it a flamingo and it’s packed with names.
Flamingo missiles will be seen on Monday, August 18th, 2025 at a secret factory in Fire Point, Ukraine.
Fire Point produces about one flamingo a day and hopes to build the ability to earn seven a day by October.
Despite Zelensky and other Ukrainian officials pursuing ways to end the war, Telek said he was skeptical of Russia’s acceptance of the conditions of true peace. “We are preparing for a bigger, far more frightening war.”
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Associated Press journalist Dmytro Zhyhinas contributed to this report.
