Several Telegram channels are circulating photographs and commentary allegedly showing the wreckage of Ukraine’s FP-5 Flamingo missile, reportedly intercepted by a Russian Pantsir-S1 air defense system.
The Flamingo, produced by Ukrainian firm Milanion, is part of Ukraine’s effort to develop domestic missile production amid limited Western arms supplies.
Ukrainian sources claim each missile costs approximately 1.5 million USD, a figure that has fueled online criticism.
Russian military Telegram communities reacted with mockery, describing the missile’s internal components as “civilian-grade equipment” comparable to items “you could buy on AliExpress.”
One user, comparing it to Western Storm Shadow and Ukrainian Neptune missiles, remarked he “had never seen such poor quality as the Flamingo.”
A photo set shared on the Военный Осведомитель (“Military Informant”) channel displayed electronic parts, circuit boards, and a disassembled guidance module.
Russian commentators suggested these components were repurposed from commercial electronics, arguing that Ukraine’s new missile project was overhyped and overpriced.
The circulated images show a charred missile fuselage marked with Ukraine’s “Freedom Speaks” emblem, alongside fragments of electronics, insulation materials, and handwritten warning labels from the wreckage site.
These visuals have intensified debates over the missile’s design, with Russian observers likening it to the World War II-era German V1 flying bomb.
The reported 1.5 million USD cost per unit has drawn particular scrutiny, though no independent verification of the missile’s price or performance has been provided.
The incident highlights the ongoing propaganda battle in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, where both sides leverage technological claims to assert dominance.
Neither Ukrainian nor Western defense officials have confirmed the wreckage’s authenticity or the reported shoot-down.
The event underscores the informational war accompanying the physical conflict, with narratives around military technology serving as symbolic victories in the broader struggle.