News And Information From Ukraine

Dispatches from Ukraine: Day 1,275

Russia launched a massive overnight assault on Ukraine, firing 614 projectiles in what marks the most extensive aerial strike in three weeks. The Ukrainian Air Force reported intercepting or electronically jamming 546 drones and decoys, along with 31 missiles. Despite these efforts, strikes landed in 11 locations, including in Western Ukraine.

One of the targeted sites was the Flex International plant in Mukachevo, described as one of the largest American investments in the country. The attack killed one person and injured 23 others. “Russia clearly has no intention of peace,” said Andy Hunder, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, in comments to Forbes Ukraine following the strike.

Kharkiv Region. On August 18, Russian troops hit a residential building in Kharkiv with drones, killing a family of five, two other people, and injuring 24. On August 21, the three-generation family — 1.5-year-old Mia, her 16-year-old brother Artem, their 38-year-old mother Tetiana, 45-year-old father Ruslan, and 57-year-old grandmother Halyna — was buried in Kharkiv.

Between August 19 and 21, additional Russian missile and artillery attacks killed at least 17 civilians and wounded nearly 80 more across multiple regions. The Donetsk region suffered the most severe toll, with nine killed and 24 injured. Zaporizhzhia followed with four dead and 34 wounded. In the Kherson region, two civilians were killed and 12 were injured.

Ukraine’s long-range Flamingo missile.

As Russia’s attacks escalate, Ukraine is stepping up its long-range strike capabilities with the development of a new cruise missile, the FP-5 Flamingo. The missile, designed by Ukrainian defense startup Fire Point, reportedly has a range of up to 1,860 miles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called it “the most successful missile we have so far,” following successful test launches on August 20. He indicated that mass production could begin by late 2025 or early 2026.

If deployed successfully, the Flamingo could pose a serious threat to Russia’s defense infrastructure deep within its territory. Unlike the smaller, slower drones Ukraine has previously used to target Russian refineries and military installations, the Flamingo carries a payload of over 1,100 kilograms and travels at nearly 600 kilometers per hour. Its wingspan is six meters, and its launch weight is about six tons. Defense analysts believe the missile uses modified jet engines from training aircraft—an economical innovation that could speed up large-scale manufacturing. Currently, Fire Point produces one missile per day but aims to scale up to seven per day by October.

Ukrainian officials claim the Flamingo may outperform the U.S. Tomahawk cruise missile, both in firepower and production costs. For Kyiv, developing long-range strike technology represents more than a military milestone—it’s a strategic move toward defense independence amid Western hesitation to provide similar systems. Fire Point, born during the war, began with founders from non-military backgrounds in construction, gaming, and architecture. The company’s earlier FP-1 drones, capable of reaching targets up to 1,600 kilometers away, are already in use against Russian supply hubs. In just a year, drone production has increased from 30 units per month to over 100 per day.

Whether Ukraine can achieve full-scale Flamingo production on Zelensky’s timeline remains uncertain. The missile’s ultimate impact on the war may depend on the shifting tides of diplomacy, especially if U.S. President Donald Trump succeeds in initiating peace talks. However, if Ukraine can strike deep into Russian territory—including Siberia, the Urals, and areas near Moscow—Russia may be forced to stretch its air defense systems thin across its vast territory.

Peace talks.

On the diplomatic front, President Trump has opted against direct involvement in peace negotiations at this stage. Speaking in a phone interview with conservative host Mark Levin, Trump said he would consider hosting a trilateral summit only after Presidents Zelenskyy and Putin meet face-to-face. This marks a shift from his earlier campaign rhetoric, in which he claimed he could end the war within 24 hours. Administration officials now describe his stance as a “wait-and-see approach,” and there is no confirmed date or location for a bilateral meeting.

Following recent meetings with Zelenskyy and European leaders in Washington, Trump held a 40-minute phone call with President Putin. Reports suggest both sides agreed to appoint senior-level negotiators for direct talks. Trump has reiterated that he does not plan to send U.S. troops to Ukraine, stating that American assistance would be limited to intelligence sharing and possibly air support. Security guarantees for Ukraine remain a sticking point. Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said on CNN that Putin has agreed to a U.S.-backed security framework similar to NATO’s Article 5 clause, though Russia has also proposed being a guarantor itself—an idea the White House has privately rejected.

Meanwhile, President Zelenskyy has proposed a $90 billion purchase of U.S. weapons through European intermediaries and has offered U.S. access to Ukrainian-made drones. However, details on how this fits with the recent weapons agreements remain unclear. Trump has also criticized President Joe Biden for delaying Ukraine’s ability to strike inside Russian territory. Writing on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump argued that “it is very hard, if not impossible, to win a war without attacking an invader’s country,” likening the restriction to tying a football team’s hands behind its back.

Ukraine’s ability to strike remains constrained by its limited stock of long-range U.S. missiles, which were only authorized for use against Russian territory in the fall of 2024 and quickly depleted.

Psychological toll of war.

Beyond the battlefield, the psychological toll of the war is worsening, especially for Ukraine’s children. First Lady Olena Zelenska, speaking at the “August-2025: Education for a Changing World” conference in Kyiv, revealed that nearly half of Ukrainian children are now showing signs of PTSD. Symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, insomnia, irritability, and social withdrawal are becoming common, threatening their mental health and ability to learn. Zelenska emphasized the urgent need for psychological support and educational reform to mitigate the long-term effects of the war on an entire generation.