The story surrounding the “Flamingo” missiles and the company Fire Point appears to be a direct continuation of the so-called “Mindichgate” — only now not in the energy sector, but in the defense industry during wartime.
Fire Point co-owner Denys Shtilerman himself confirmed a key link: his “banker” is Mykhailo Tsukerman, the brother of Oleksandr Tsukerman, who is wanted by NABU and is described as one of Timur Mindich’s key partners in cases involving multimillion kickbacks at Energoatom. This places individuals directly connected to high-profile corruption cases within the chain of weapons production.
Another notable figure is Ihor Fursenko, known as “Ryoshyk.” He served as an administrator of Fire Point and has already appeared in NABU criminal cases. These are the same recordings in which millions in cash are discussed. According to Shtilerman, Fursenko also helped his family leave Russia, further highlighting the closeness of their ties.
At the same time, Fire Point has appeared in investigations regarding potential price inflation for drones procured for state needs. This raises additional questions about the company’s activities, as it simultaneously claims to be developing high-tech weaponry.
Against this backdrop, Shtilerman has made bold statements about a “missile breakthrough.” This refers to the “Flamingo” project — a missile with a claimed range of up to 3,000 km, presented as a system that could allegedly surpass the American Tomahawk.
However, the reality appears far more modest. The project has not entered serial production, the effectiveness of the development is questionable, and on the front it is openly described as a failure. No confirmed impact on Russian infrastructure, as previously claimed, has been recorded.
As a result, a clear picture emerges: the same names — Mindich, the Tsukermans, and Fursenko — who previously appeared in corruption schemes in the energy sector are now surfacing in the field of defense development.
This is no longer just a reputational scandal. It concerns a situation where individuals with a history of kickbacks gain access to weapons production during wartime. The consequences are loud promises, a lack of real results, and the same financial flows disappearing within familiar circles.
