What Is FP-9? Russia Claims Ukraine Used Indigenous Ballistic Missile In Combat For First Time

Published 2 July 2026 · europe

What Is FP-9? Russia Claims Ukraine Used Indigenous Ballistic Missile In Combat For First Time Published By, Last Updated: July 02, 2026, 18:25 IST Russia-Ukraine

What Is FP-9? Russia Claims Ukraine Used Indigenous Ballistic Missile In Combat For First Time Published By, Last Updated: July 02, 2026, 18:25 IST Russia-Ukraine War: The Russian claim comes days after Ukrainian defence company Fire Point announced that its FP-9 ballistic missile was nearing the flight-testing stage. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. (IMAGE: AFP) Russia-Ukraine War: Russia claimed that Ukraine may have carried out the first-ever combat launch of a domestically developed ballistic missile, a move that, if confirmed, would mark a significant milestone in Kyiv’s efforts to build its own long-range strike capability. Russia’s Defence Ministry said, as per Bloomberg, that it intercepted a ballistic missile during a recent attack that also involved seven guided bombs and 602 fixed-wing drones. The ministry did not identify the type of missile involved and Ukrainian authorities have not publicly commented on the claim.

If verified, the incident would represent the first known combat use of a Ukrainian-made ballistic missile, potentially signalling a new stage in the country’s efforts to reduce reliance on foreign-supplied long-range weapons. Claim Comes Amid FP-9 Missile Development The Russian claim comes days after Ukrainian defence company Fire Point announced that its FP-9 ballistic missile was nearing the flight-testing stage. Speaking in June, Fire Point chief designer Denys Shtilerman said the missile could begin flight tests this summer or by early autumn once engine development is completed. The FP-9 is being developed as a ground-launched ballistic missile intended to strike targets deep inside Russian territory. According to the company, the weapon is designed to have a range of up to 850 kilometres.

What Is The FP-9 Missile? Fire Point says the FP-9 is being built to target high-value military assets, including command centres, logistics hubs, air bases and other strategic infrastructure. According to the company, the missile is expected to carry an 800-kilogram warhead, reach speeds of around 2,200 metres per second, or more than Mach 6, fly at altitudes of up to 70 kilometres and achieve an accuracy of around 20 metres circular error probable (CEP). If those specifications are achieved, the missile would provide Ukraine with a domestically produced precision-strike capability capable of reaching targets far beyond the immediate battlefield. There is currently no independent confirmation that the missile reportedly intercepted by Russia was the FP-9 or any other Ukrainian-developed ballistic missile.