"Flamingos Should Winter in Russia": Zelensky Announces Shift to Mass Strikes Deep into Russia with Ukrainian Missiles

A "Mass Bird" Instead of a Rare Species: Zelensky Outlines New Long-Range Strike Doctrine

On Ukraine's Independence Day, August 24, 2026, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in his address that the Ukrainian ballistic missile FP-5 "Flamingo" should move from the category of single precision strikes to a mass weapon regularly hitting targets deep in Russia's rear. "Flamingos should not be a rare species, but a mass bird. They should winter in Russia," the head of state emphasized, thereby effectively marking a strategic shift in the long-range fire tactics of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. According to him, Ukrainian forces have already struck Moscow, Tuapse, Tula, Ryazan, Olene, Omsk, and dozens of other points on Russian territory, and "Russia should see more of this justice."

The Defense Industry as a "Giant That Tempering Independence 24/7"

Zelensky separately thanked the workers of the defense-industrial complex, who, in his assessment, have been ensuring weapons production on a round-the-clock basis for four years now. "In reality, our defense industry today is a giant that tempers Independence 24/7. And we must do more," the president stated. He added that pride in the sector's achievements "does not blind our eyes" and that Kyiv sees "what Putin is doing and what he wants," and that Russia's bet on ballistic terror "must not pay off." A solution to this terror, according to Zelensky, must be found.

The Night of August 24: Drones Hit Ozon Logistics and a Warehouse in Krasnodar

On the night of August 24, 2026, Ukrainian drones attacked two major logistics centers of the Ozon marketplace on Russian territory — in Adygea and the Stavropol Krai. The combined area of both facilities is nearly 185,000 square meters. In addition, as a result of a massive drone attack, a large building-materials warehouse in Krasnodar, covering about 9,000 square meters, caught fire. Preliminary data suggest that the warehouse damage may have been caused by electronic warfare measures or by the downing of a drone, and the facility itself, according to Ukrainian sources, may have had a dual use.

Context: "Flamingo" Strikes on Military Enterprises

Earlier this year, the FP-5 "Flamingo" missile struck the "Avitek" plant in Kirov — an enterprise specializing in the production of missile weapons for the Russian army. According to Focus and UNIAN, the consequences of the explosion were captured on video. It was separately noted that the "Flamingo" design uses components of European origin, which underscores the integration of the Ukrainian defense industry into international supply chains. These precedents form the factual basis for Zelensky's statement about transitioning to the mass application of the missile.

Contradictory Data

The assessment of the scale of the night damage on August 24 remains preliminary. According to data on the Krasnodar warehouse, the cause of the damage — electronic warfare actions or a direct hit/downing of a drone — has not been definitively confirmed by either side. In addition, the claim of the facility's "dual use" is currently based on preliminary data and has not received independent verification. As for Zelensky's statements on the list of hit cities, some of them (in particular, the mention of "Olene" among major cities) raise questions about the accuracy of the wording, although the general thesis about dozens of strike points corresponds to previously recorded incidents.