Ukrainian drone manufacturer Fire Point is playing a pivotal role in the nation’s deep-strike campaign against Russia, according to CEO Iryna Terekh. The company, which has seen exponential growth since 2022, now facilitates over 60% of Ukraine’s long-range strikes.
Terekh emphasizes that military strength is a prerequisite for diplomacy and highlights the significant challenges posed by European bureaucracy, comparing it to the threat from Russia.
Iryna Terekh, CEO of Ukrainian drone manufacturer Fire Point, asserts that Ukraine has "learned the hard way" that military leverage is crucial for diplomatic progress. Her remarks come amid an escalating drone campaign by Kyiv against Russia, which appears to have reignited hopes of a shift in Ukraine's favor in the ongoing conflict.
"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?" Terekh questioned, highlighting the challenges faced by Ukrainian defense companies.
Fire Point, a missile and drone manufacturer, claims to be instrumental in over 60% of Ukraine's "long-range sanctions" – a term likely referring to deep strikes into Russian territory. The company has experienced significant growth since its inception following Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.
In its founding year, the defense-tech startup produced approximately 200 drones, a figure Terekh described as a "huge achievement." The company has since expanded from three founders to over 7,000 employees, with projections indicating the production of over 100,000 drones by the end of the year.
Terekh expressed a shift from a prior "naïve state of mind" where she believed de-escalation and diplomatic solutions were possible. "From what we can observe, this is not something that is possible," she stated, acknowledging the current realities of the conflict.
Ukraine's drone campaign, extending from Siberia to occupied Crimea, has seemingly bolstered hopes for a favorable turn in the war. However, concerns remain about the potential for further escalation as Ukraine increases pressure on Russia.
Analysts, including Christopher Isajiw of the Atlantic Council, have questioned the sole effectiveness of Ukrainian drones in forcing Russia to negotiate. Progress towards peace, they suggest, may hinge on making the continuation of the war more costly for Russia than its cessation.
Ukraine Intensifies Calls for Ballistic Missile Interceptors
Recent weeks have seen Ukraine escalate attacks on Russian e-commerce giant Wildberries, aiming to disrupt a key sector of Russia's economy and create a new point of pressure. Concurrently, Russian forces have increased missile strikes on Ukrainian cities, potentially exploiting Kyiv's limited supply 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 capabilities. Terekh emphasized the company's significant role and the evolving nature of modern warfare doctrines.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly acknowledged Fire Point's contribution, noting its role in making Siberia accessible to Ukrainian precision strikes, particularly after an attack on a major oil refinery in Omsk. This event preceded discussions at a NATO summit where U.S. President Donald Trump indicated the U.S. would permit Ukraine to produce ballistic missile interceptors.
However, subsequent statements from Trump have cast doubt on the domestic and European production of Patriots, causing alarm among Ukrainian officials who anticipate a challenging winter campaign. Zelenskyy has consistently urged international partners to accelerate the delivery of ballistic missile interceptors, citing their potential to save lives lost in recent attacks.
Fire Point is pursuing the development of a ballistic missile interceptor at a significantly lower cost than U.S.-made Patriots, though this ambitious goal requires condensing a typical two-to-three-decade development timeline into just a few years.
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Production of Fire Point's Flamingo cruise missile has been constrained by delays in European funding. Terekh expressed confidence that production would ramp up once the expected European loan funds are received, allowing the company to reach its projected capabilities.
Fire Point: Europe's Red Tape Poses a Strategic Threat
Terekh has previously drawn parallels between European bureaucracy and the security threats posed by Russian forces. She argued that the achievements of Ukrainian manufacturers like Fire Point would be significantly hampered, if not impossible, in any other European country due to regulatory hurdles.
"When we compare these two threats, so the Russians and the bureaucracy, 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?" she reiterated.
A spokesperson for the European Commission declined to comment on Terekh's remarks. The EU recently implemented its most substantial sanctions package against Russia in four years, targeting hundreds of individuals and entities to curb Russia's economic capacity to sustain the invasion.
Alex Kolyandr, director for Europe at Eurasia Group, commented on Ukraine's strategic approach, noting the effectiveness of targeting Russian refining facilities and major retail companies like Wildberries. He suggested these actions serve a dual purpose: inflicting economic damage and signaling the war's proximity and impact to the Russian populace.
