After battlefield stagnation… Ukraine turns to Flamingo and its counterparts

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The stalemate on the frontlines is driving Ukraine to adopt a new strategy, testing its latest tools of warfare.

In an analysis published by the New York Times, the paper noted that “facing a prolonged military deadlock along the battle lines, Kyiv is looking for unconventional means to shift the balance of the war.”

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With diplomatic initiatives faltering, Kyiv is pursuing a new offensive strategy aimed at taking the fight deep into Russian territory through missiles and drones, in an effort to force Moscow to reconsider the cost of continuing the war.

In this context, oil refineries, factories, ports, and railway lines inside Russia have been targeted.

The paper highlighted that Ukraine now possesses an arsenal capable of reaching most western regions of Russia, where oil refining is concentrated. Kyiv also unveiled a new weapon called “Flamingo,” said to be able to strike Russia’s industrial heartland in the Ural Mountains.

Given these long-range strikes, the newspaper asked: will this strategy be enough to persuade the Kremlin to negotiate?

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has relentlessly pushed for heavy Western weaponry to protect the trench lines.

He has dubbed this campaign “long-range sanctions” or “drone sanctions,” describing it as an escalation of economic pressure.

Yesterday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he plans to meet Zelensky at the White House next Friday. He also expressed his view that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan could help mediate the conflict.

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What weapons are being used?

The drones and missiles bear names such as Neptune, Flamingo, Furious, and Beaver.

This summer, a Ukrainian company unveiled the Flamingo cruise missile, reportedly capable of reaching over 1,800 miles.

The Neptune missile, originally designed as an anti-ship weapon, has been adapted to strike land targets. Zelensky recently confirmed that both missiles have been used against targets inside Russia.

Drones such as the “Furious” and the “Beaver” are made of plastic, carbon fiber, Styrofoam, and cardboard.

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Although relatively small, they can fly nearly 600 miles—a range sufficient to hit Moscow if they manage to evade Russian air defenses.

The New York Times noted that Ukraine has increased its reliance on domestically produced weapons to strike Russia. At the same time, Kyiv is in talks with the United States to obtain Tomahawk missiles, which would add another long-range capability to its campaign.

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that the delivery of Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv would mark “a qualitatively new phase of escalation” by the United States in the war.

He stressed that Kyiv’s use of Tomahawks would severely damage U.S.-Russian relations.

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What is being targeted?

In the routine nightly exchanges, Russia typically launches far more drones and missiles at Ukraine than Kyiv directs at Russia.

However, Ukrainian officials say that if their strikes can inflict enough damage and disruption, negotiations might eventually lead to a deal whereby Kyiv halts its attacks if Moscow does the same.

Throughout the war, Ukraine has carried out numerous long-range strikes on Russian military sites such as ammunition depots and logistics hubs.

Currently, Ukraine’s focus is on oil refineries, seen as both economically and symbolically sensitive targets.

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