Denys Shtilerman
On Saturday night, missile strikes occurred in Samara, likely targeting the aerospace industry. The TsSKB-Progress facility may have been hit, and Aviakor may also have been affected.
Russia is already testing NATO’s response to military aggression and may move on to more dangerous provocations. At the same time, Europe’s weak point remains the low pace of defense production and shortages of certain types of weapons.
Ukraine is working on its own Freyja antiballistic project, which is managed by the defense company Fire Point. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the state’s key task is to protect the production facilities from Russian strikes.
The launch of the Freyja anti-ballistic program is scheduled for mid-2027. Fire Point denied fake reports claiming it was supposedly ready to “close the skies to ballistic missiles by the end of the month” and said that such manipulations discredit the work on the project.
Elon Musk refused to let Ukraine use Starlink to strike Russian ballistic missile launchers, citing the risk of escalation and calling for negotiations. At the same time, Ukraine continues a systematic campaign of long-range strikes against strategic facilities of the Russian Federation using its own capabilities.
Ukrainian company Fire Point has begun integrating components from 13 European partners into the Freyja system. The first interception of a ballistic missile is planned by mid-2027.
Russia produces and uses ballistic missiles faster than the world can produce modern interceptor missiles. This imbalance forces a review of approaches to building the global security system.
Fire Point chief designer Denys Shtilerman stated that Ukraine will not receive Patriot interceptor missiles in the near future. He believes that US statements about converging positions are preparation for pressure, not mediation.
Hensoldt, Fire Point's German partner in the Freyja project, doubled its volume of new orders in the first half of 2026 and crossed the €10 billion mark for the first time in its history.
Ukrainian drones attack Wildberries logistics centers, threatening financial problems for the company and its creditors. The marketplace's debts reach 1.3 trillion rubles, and the strikes could increase pressure on the Russian economy.
Fire Point invests hundreds of millions of hryvnias of profits from serial drones and missiles into the development of ballistic missiles FP-7 and FP-9.
Ukraine has changed its long-range strike strategy. Strikes on refineries, which triggered a fuel crisis, were only the first stage of destroying the economy that sustains the army.
Ukrainian company Fire Point intends to produce up to three FP-9 ballistic missiles per day with sufficient funding. The first combat uses of the missiles are expected in the fall, including strikes on Moscow.
Denys Shtilerman stated that he is not involved in the dismissal of Mykhailo Fedorov from the post of Minister of Defense.
Outside the kill zone created by Ukrainian drones along the front line, the enemy has the opportunity to deploy facilities that support the army's combat capability – short-range missiles are suitable for striking these facilities.
Fire Point chief designer Denys Shtilerman confirmed that the Flamingo missile struck the "Aviatek" plant in Kirov. The enterprise produces components for Tor air defense systems and Kh-101 missiles.
President Trump granted Ukraine permission to produce missiles for the Patriot air defense system. Lockheed Martin supported the decision, and Zelenskyy stated the technical possibility by the end of 2026.
Fire Point chief designer Denys Shtilerman published a video of a rocket launch without additional details. Users speculated that this is the FP-9 ballistic missile with a range of up to 855 km.
The President of Ukraine and the President of the European Commission signed a Letter of Intent on defense-industrial partnership. The EU allocated an additional 1 billion euros for drones within the framework of a 90 billion euro loan.
Ukraine and European partners have founded the Anti-Ballistic Coalition, which is launching the creation of a joint anti-ballistic system FREYJA. Well-known European defense companies are joining the project launch.
Fire Point co-founder Denys Shtilerman stated that the FREYJA project will be built on an open architecture, allowing partner countries to use their own components. The company is ready to share technologies and open missile production abroad.
Commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Robert Brovdi, reported the "hunting" of 20 vessels of Russia's shadow fleet in the Black Sea. Among the hunted targets were 17 oil tankers, 2 gas carriers, and 1 tugboat.
Ukraine has something to offer European partners, and the FREYJA project is not only about protecting Ukrainian skies but also a response to the threat from Russia to all of Europe.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the Ukrainian military continues to impose "long-range sanctions" on Russia. He thanked the units of the SSO, SBU, SBS, GUR, and Navy for strikes on oil refineries, ships, and tankers of the "shadow fleet".
President Zelenskyy stated that Russian ballistic missiles will soon be able to reach 5,000 km. He emphasized the need for a European missile defense system and the creation of the FREYJA anti-ballistic shield.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed the strike on the oil refining complex "Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat", the Afipsky Refinery, the area of ship transshipment near Gelendzhik, tankers, dry cargo vessels, and other military facilities of Russia.
In Russia, the fuel shortage has reached such proportions that Putin has stopped promising to solve the problem. The Center for Countering Disinformation states that the Kremlin has lost control of the situation.
President Zelenskyy stated that the existing anti-ballistic missile capabilities are insufficient, and the number of ballistic missiles will increase. Ukraine proposed to European leaders the creation of a joint air defense system FREYJA, offering its own interceptor missile.
The President of Ukraine hopes to see FREYJA in operation within 12 months. Nine European countries have joined the project, and Ukraine provides the interceptor missile.
President Zelenskyy announced that the FREYJA project will involve the Ukrainian company Fire Point and European companies, including Thales, HENSOLDT, Saab.