Ukraine war briefing: Flamingo flies into battle, Zelenskyy defers to commanders over Pokrovsk

"The Ukrainian-made FP-5 missile can fly 3,000km (1,864 miles) and land within 14 metres (45ft) of its target, and is one of the largest such missiles in the world, able to deliver a warhead of 1,150kg (2,535lb), according to experts. It is commonly known as a Flamingo missile because initial versions came out pink after the factory used the wrong paint, and is a partial alternative to the advanced Tomahawk missiles that the US has held back from supplying to Ukraine."

"The general staff said Ukrainian forces hit a marine oil terminal in occupied Crimea, a helicopter parking lot and UAV storage area, training areas at the Kirovsk airfield, and an air defence radar station in the Yevpatoria area. In the temporarily occupied territory of Zaporizhzhia region, an oil depot in the Berdiansk area and forward command posts of the 5th Combined Arms Army and the 127th Motorized Rifle Division of the Russian occupiers were hit."

"Russian forces launched a massive drone and missile attack on Kyiv early on Friday, officials said, striking apartment buildings and triggering explosions and fires. Air defences are in action in Kyiv, said the mayor, Vitali Klitschko. Klitschko said falling debris had struck a five-storey apartment building in Dniprovskyi district on the east side of the Dnipro River and a high-rise dwelling was on fire in Podil district on the opposite bank."

Ukraine employed its FP-5 'Flamingo' cruise missile together with domestically produced drones to hit several dozen targets in Russian-occupied territories and inside Russia. The FP-5 can fly 3,000km, land within 14 metres of its target, and carry a 1,150kg warhead, making it one of the largest cruise missiles globally. Reported strikes included a marine oil terminal in occupied Crimea, helicopter parking and UAV storage, training areas at Kirovsk airfield, an air-defence radar in Yevpatoria, an oil depot near Berdiansk, and forward command posts of Russian formations in Zaporizhzhia. Russian forces responded with a massive drone and missile attack on Kyiv, striking residential buildings, causing fires and activating air defences. Authorities are clarifying the extent of damage.

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