Ukraine’s drone manufacturer Fire Point is at the forefront of the nation’s deep-strike campaign against Russia, with CEO Iryna Terekh emphasizing the necessity of military strength for diplomacy. The company has seen exponential growth since 2022, now aiming to produce over 100,000 drones this year.
Fire Point is also developing advanced weaponry, including aiming to produce a more affordable ballistic missile interceptor than U.S. systems, while facing challenges with European funding and bureaucracy.
Inside Ukraine's Drone Revolution: Fire Point Fuels Deep-Strike Campaign
Ukraine has "learned the hard way" that military leverage is crucial for diplomacy, according to Iryna Terekh, CEO of Fire Point, the leading Ukrainian arms company facilitating over 60% of the nation's deep strikes into Russian territory. Her statements underscore Ukraine's escalating drone campaign, which has seemingly revived hopes of a shift in the war's favor.
Founded in response to Russia's 2022 invasion, Fire Point has experienced exponential growth. The Kyiv-headquartered startup, initially comprising three members, now boasts over 7,000 employees. Terekh anticipates the company will produce more than 100,000 drones by year's end, a dramatic increase from the roughly 200 produced in 2022.
Terekh expressed a shift from her pre-invasion belief in de-escalation through diplomacy. "Unfortunately, I was in that naïve state of mind before the full-scale invasion that we will find a way to de-escalate the situation and find a diplomatic way to deal with this, but from what we can observe, this is not something that is possible," she told CNBC.
Ukraine's drone campaign, targeting areas from Siberia to Crimea, has seemingly shifted the war's momentum, though concerns about further escalation persist. Analysts like Christopher Isajiw from the Atlantic Council question whether drones alone can compel Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate, suggesting that peace may only be achievable when the cost of war outweighs the cost of ending it for Russia.
Ukraine's Push for Ballistic Missile Interceptors
In addition to striking Russian economic targets like Wildberries, Ukraine faces an intensified missile barrage from Russia, exacerbating its shortage of ballistic missile interceptors. Fire Point, known for its FP-1 deep-strike drones and FP-5 Flamingo cruise missiles, is committed to supporting Ukraine's long-range strike objectives.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has lauded Fire Point's role in extending Ukraine's reach, particularly after an attack on an oil refinery in Omsk. This capability was highlighted ahead of a NATO summit where discussions on U.S. provision of ballistic missile interceptors, like the Patriot system, were central. However, U.S. President Donald Trump has since expressed reservations about domestic Patriot production for Ukraine, raising concerns for Ukrainian officials about an anticipated winter offensive.
Zelenskyy has urgently called for more interceptors, stating they could have saved lives during a recent attack in Kyiv. Fire Point is working to develop its own ballistic missile interceptor, aiming for a significantly lower cost than U.S. counterparts, though this ambitious goal requires condensing decades of development into a few years.
The company also faces challenges with its Flamingo cruise missile production due to delays in European funding, according to Terekh. "The production of Flamingo is not running at full power [at] the moment because we were waiting for the funds for a European loan to come in but we expect to ramp it up to expected maximum capabilities," she explained.
European Bureaucracy: A Strategic Threat?
Terekh has voiced strong criticism of European bureaucracy, likening it to a security threat. "Whatever Fire Point achieved, and as well as other Ukrainian manufacturers, would be never possible in any [other] European country, simply because of bureaucracy," she stated. She urged European politicians to reconsider bureaucratic processes in the face of current global threats, questioning how to combat regulations when faced with a direct military adversary: "With the Russians you can fight with drones and missiles but how do you fight with bureaucracy when you cannot receive a paper that you need very much to do some job?"
While the European Commission declined to comment, the EU recently implemented its most significant sanctions package against Russia. Analysts like Alex Kolyandr of Eurasia Group commend Ukraine's strategic targeting of Russian economic assets, noting the success in demonstrating the war's proximity and impact on Russian citizens.
