This Ukrainian startup makes drones – and soon, cruise missiles – to strike deep inside Russia

Описание: (21 Aug 2025)
FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4598193

++CLIENTS NOTE: In shot 5, Iryna Terekh describes the capabilities of the FP-5 missile, and in shot 7, she details the capabilities of the FP-1 drone. The edit has been recut for clarity.++

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Undisclosed location, Ukraine - 18 August 2025
1. Various of Ukrainian-made long-range FP-5 missiles at Fire Point defense company facility
2. Various of FP-5 missile tail fins in motion
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Iryna Terekh, Fire Point chief technical officer:
“Weapon production is a huge guarantee of Ukraine's independence, not only Ukrainian independence, but also European safety."
4. Various of FP-5 missiles
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Iryna Terekh, Fire Point chief technical officer:
“The maximum range is 3,000 km (1,864 miles) confirmed, with an accuracy of 14 metres to target on this distance. And the payload capacity is in the moment 1,150 kg (2,535 pounds).”
6. Various of workers assembling FP1-drone
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Iryna Terekh, Fire Point chief technical officer:
“The overall technical characteristics (for FP-1 drone) is not much different from a Shahed (Iranian made model). Of course, it has different construction, but the function is the same, despite of the fact that it can go a little bit more far, has a little bit a bigger payload, and is a little bit more advanced in terms of precise hit to a specific target.”
8. Decal on FP-5 missile reading (English) “With love from UA (Ukraine)”
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Iryna Terekh, Fire Point chief technical officer:
"Right now Ukraine is holding this barrier, and let's say it's exporting safety to other countries which are standing behind Ukraine.”
10. Wide of FP-5 missiles
STORYLINE:
When a Ukrainian-made drone attacked an ammunition depot in Russia last September, it showcased Kyiv’s determination to strike deep behind enemy lines and the prowess of its defense industry.

The moment was especially gratifying for the woman in charge of manufacturing the drones that flew more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) to carry out this mission.

For months after, Russia no longer had the means to keep up devastating glide bomb attacks like the one that had just targeted her native city of Kharkiv.

“Weapon production is a huge guarantee of Ukraine's independence,” said Iryna Terekh, the head of production at Fire Point.

Terekh spoke as she surveyed dozens of “deep-strike drones” that had recently come off the assembly line and would soon be used by Ukrainian forces to attack arms depots, oil refineries and other targets vital to the Kremlin’s war machine and economy.

Spurred by its existential fight against Russia -- and limited military assistance from Western allies -- Ukraine has fast become a global center for defense innovation.

The goal is to match, if not outmuscle, Russia’s capabilities -- and Fire Point is one of the companies leading the way.

The Associated Press was granted an exclusive look inside one of Fire Point’s dozens of covert factories.

In a sprawling warehouse where rock music blared, executives showed off their signature FP-1 exploding drones that can travel up to 1,600 kilometers (994 miles).

They also touted publicly for the first time a cruise missile they are developing that is capable of traveling 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles), and which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hopes will be mass-produced by the end of the year.


Ukraine's government is now purchasing about $10 billion of weapons annually from domestic manufacturers.














Fire Point’s story is not entirely unique.



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