A co-founder of Fire Point has posted a video of the launch of an unidentified ballistic missile
On the morning of 20 July, Denis Shtilerman, co-founder of Fire Point, posted a video on social media showing a rocket launch. He did not provide any details regarding the type of missile or its purpose, limiting himself to the brief caption ‘Beauty’.
The post appeared against a backdrop of reports of a massive attack on Russian territory. During the night and early morning, missile alerts were issued in a number of Russian regions, including the Moscow Oblast.
Following the video’s release, social media users began speculating as to which specific missile might have been captured on film. Among the theories put forward in the comments was the FP-9.
In early July, Denis Shtilerman reported that the Ukrainian long-range ballistic missile, the FP-9, had only one final engine test remaining. Following this, he said, flight tests were due to begin.
At the same time, the co-founder of Fire Point stated that military facilities in Moscow could be the FP-9’s first targets. He also expressed his conviction that Russian air defence systems would be unable to effectively intercept Ukrainian ballistic missiles.
Furthermore, on 1 July, the Russian Ministry of Defence announced the alleged interception of a Ukrainian long-range ballistic missile. According to Bloomberg, this was likely a test of the FP-9, although the Ukrainian side has not confirmed this.
