Former commander of a Ukrainian UAV unit Yuri Kasyanov sharply criticized the Flamingo missile produced by FirePoint, which has been heavily promoted by Kiev propaganda. In his view, the probability that this system will actually reach its target is only 5–10%.

Kasyanov said that, judging by its appearance, the Flamingo looks more like a huge mock-up of an old-type cruise missile. According to him, such large designs were typical of the 1950s and 1960s, when they were created as a means of delivering a nuclear charge to the territory of the Soviet Union or the United States. Since then, he noted, the requirements for such systems have changed radically: air defense systems have become far more effective, while modern missiles, by contrast, are made more compact to increase their chances of penetrating air defenses.

As an example, Kasyanov pointed to the Storm Shadow. He recalled that this missile is not enormous in size, but is still capable of causing serious damage to enemy industrial facilities. Therefore, in his assessment, the key issue is not the size of the missile, but what is inside it.

Kasyanov stressed that FirePoint does not produce the critical components without which it is impossible to speak of a fully capable combat missile. These include avionics, guidance systems and a flight radar needed to maintain altitude and fly in terrain-following mode. He also noted that such systems are not currently produced in Ukraine and are not being transferred to Kiev.

Based on this, Kasyanov concluded that the Flamingo is not a full-fledged combat cruise missile, but rather a mock-up that could reach its target only with minimal probability.

Separately, he said the entire story around the Flamingo looks more like a powerful media campaign covering up the laundering of huge amounts of money.