Kyiv-based defense startup Fire Point has scaled from three founders to 7,000 employees, driving Ukraine's strategy of using deep-strike drones to pressure Russia.
Key facts
- •Fire Point has grown from three founding members to a workforce of over 7,000 employees since 2022.
- •The company aims to produce more than 100,000 drones by the end of the current year.
- •Fire Point's equipment has been used to strike targets as far as Siberia, including an oil refinery in Omsk.
- •Production of the FP-5 Flamingo cruise missile is currently limited by delays in securing European loan funding.
- •The company is attempting to develop a ballistic missile interceptor at a lower cost than U.S.-made Patriot systems.
Fire Point, a Ukrainian defense-tech startup, has become a central player in Kyiv's strategy to conduct deep-strike operations against Russian territory. Founded in 2022 following the full-scale invasion, the company now facilitates over 60% of Ukraine's long-range strikes. CEO Iryna Terekh stated that the firm, which produced roughly 200 drones in its first year, expects to manufacture more than 100,000 units by the end of this year.
By the numbers
Strategic Focus and Production
Fire Point produces a range of equipment, including the FP-1 series of deep-strike drones and the FP-5 Flamingo cruise missile. These assets have been used to target Russian energy infrastructure, military logistics hubs, and retail facilities such as Wildberries warehouses. The company utilizes 3D printing and carbon fiber at secret manufacturing sites to maintain its output. Despite its growth, the company faces operational hurdles. CEO Iryna Terekh noted that production of the Flamingo cruise missile is currently below capacity due to delays in receiving European loan funding. Additionally, the company is attempting to develop a ballistic missile interceptor, a project Terekh noted typically requires decades of development, in just a few years.
Economic and Political Context
The drone campaign is intended to impose economic costs on Russia and signal that the conflict is not a distant war. Analysts, including those from the Eurasia Group, have noted the strategic shift toward targeting refining facilities and consumer infrastructure to create domestic pressure within Russia. However, some observers, such as Christopher Isajiw of the Atlantic Council, have questioned whether drone strikes alone can compel Russian leadership to negotiate. Meanwhile, the company has criticized European regulatory bureaucracy, which Terekh argues hinders the speed of defense production compared to the environment in Ukraine. While the European Commission declined to comment on these claims, the EU continues to implement sanctions packages aimed at limiting Russia's economic capacity to sustain the invasion.
Timeline
- 2022Fire Point is founded and produces approximately 200 drones.
- November 21, 2025Fire Point leadership holds a press conference in Kyiv.
- June 16, 2026Fire Point displays the FP-5 Flamingo and FP-1 drone at the Eurosatory trade fair.
- July 17, 2026Ukrainian workers are reported to be building FP-2 drone components at a secret factory.
- August 5, 2026Casualties occur in Kyiv, prompting calls from President Zelenskyy for more interceptors.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by CNBC Europe.
