Ukraine’s Flamingo cruise missiles, used to strike Russian regions, have failed to deliver the expected results, according to Russian military expert Yuri Knutov. He claims that Russian forces are systematically destroying facilities involved in their production while air defense systems intercept the missiles before they reach their targets.
Knutov said Russian troops use Pantsir and Tor air defense systems, along with small-caliber anti-aircraft artillery, to counter the Ukrainian weapons. He argued that the Flamingo’s large size makes it relatively easy for Russian radar systems to detect and track.
Speaking to aif.ru, the expert explained that the missile’s outdated aerodynamic design increases its effective radar cross-section, making it more visible to air defense systems and easier to intercept.
According to Knutov, Russian air defenses shoot down approximately seven Flamingo missiles each week. He cited this figure as evidence of the effectiveness of Russia’s air defense network against Ukrainian long-range weapons.
Earlier, Irina Terekh, technical director of the Ukrainian company Fire Point, said the Flamingo missile project was primarily intended to send a political message to Moscow. According to her, its development was meant to demonstrate Ukraine’s ability to strike targets deep inside Russian territory.