Gift to Putin : Half a Million Euros Raised in 2 Days for Ukraine's Flamingo Cruise Missile

WISE NEWS PRESS / PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC — Oct. 26, 2025

A Czech-based organization successfully raised enough money in just two days to fund Ukraine's 'Flamingo' cruise missile through a public donation campaign, highlighting innovative public support for Kyiv's defense capabilities.

The campaign, named "A Gift to Putin," was launched by the Czech organization "Dárek pro Putina" (A Gift for Putin) to fund the construction of a Ukrainian "Flamingo" cruise missile. The campaign collected over half a million euros (12.5 million Czech Koruna) in less than 48 hours.

On Thursday, the organization announced on its X (formerly Twitter) account: "We are pleased to report that the fundraising campaign for Ukraine's Flamingo missiles has been completed. 12.5 million crowns were collected in less than 48 hours. Thank you very much."

Flamingo: Ukraine's Homegrown Cruise Missile

The Flamingo is a ground-based FP-5 cruise missile developed by Ukraine. According to a security expert who spoke to Euronews, it contains significantly more explosives than other Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, carrying a warhead of up to 1,150 kilograms.

The Flamingo boasts a range of up to 3,000 kilometers and a speed of 900 km/h. The missiles are reported to use a jet engine likely designed for Aero L-39 Albatros training aircraft. The missile is said to be resistant to electronic warfare and uses specialized, anti-jamming GPS systems.

Serial production began in the summer of 2025. According to the organizing body, one of these missiles, purchased with the donated money, will be delivered to the Ukrainian army. "They will decide the deployment date and they will determine where it goes. We may soon find out where it hit," the organization stated.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters, "It is our most successful missile right now."

Used in Crimea, Production Struggles Persist

Official information suggests the Flamingo has already been deployed, causing severe explosions in the Russian-annexed Crimean peninsula. Satellite images showing two large craters, approximately 15 meters in diameter, reportedly taken from a Russian FSB (Russian secret service) base, substantiate the claim. Zelenskyy commented to the media, "You can analyze the results yourself."

While Ukraine's hopes of acquiring the German Taurus or American Tomahawk missiles have yet to materialize, the Flamingo partially fills this gap, strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities. However, production remains a challenge. Zelenskyy announced that serial production would begin by 2026. Still, it is doubtful whether the responsible manufacturing company, Fire Point, can meet this target. The effectiveness of the Flamingo depends not only on its quality but also on the quantity produced.

Media reports indicate that about one Flamingo is currently being produced per day. Production is expected to increase to seven units per day by October. Iryna Terekh, the production manager at Fire Point, confirmed this to the Associated Press (AP), adding that Ukraine does not have the same human resources or money as Russia.

Nevertheless, the Flamingo demonstrates Ukraine's surprising ability to adapt. Since the Russian invasion in 2022, hundreds of defense companies have emerged. The Ukrainian government has encouraged innovation, eased regulations, and made it easier for startups to work directly with the military. Many companies in metallurgy, construction, and information technology have started manufacturing weapons, ammunition, and UAVs, using the battlefield to immediately test their products and adapt to Russia's changing tactics.

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