Former Ukrainian defense minister Fedorov: domestically produced ballistic missiles will strike Russia by end of 2026

Dismissed Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said that within three to six months Kyiv will be able to strike Russian territory with domestically produced ballistic missiles.

He made the statement in an exclusive interview with CBS News — his first with an American outlet since his resignation.

According to Fedorov, Ukraine’s ballistic missile program accelerated during his tenure at the ministry. He expressed confidence that a Ukrainian-made ballistic missile will be launched against Russian territory before the end of 2026. As evidence of the program’s imminent combat readiness, the 35-year-old former minister cited June tests conducted by Fire Point, one of Ukraine’s largest defense manufacturers.

“We need to beat Russia in every technological cycle, and we must make decisions around the clock,” Fedorov told CBS News.

Until now, Ukraine has relied on cheaper strike drones and long-range cruise missiles to hit deep inside Russian territory — weapons that fly slower and are more vulnerable to interception once detected. Russia, for its part, has repeatedly struck Ukrainian cities with ballistic missiles, which Kyiv’s air defense system struggles to shoot down.

In mid-July, Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Fedorov, citing an irreconcilable conflict between him and Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky. The decision sparked protests across Ukraine. About a week later, Zelensky also removed Syrsky from his post.

Fedorov declined to explain the reasons for his dismissal in detail.

“I really don’t want to tell an American audience why. Whatever the reason, what matters is that Ukraine will continue to fight,” he said.

According to CBS News, Fedorov is credited with a tenfold increase in Ukraine’s deep strikes on Russian territory, as well as with strengthening the country’s domestic arsenal during his time in office. Early Saturday morning, Zelensky announced that Ukraine had struck a facility belonging to the Russian space agency in Samara — more than 900 kilometers from the Ukrainian border — using new Ukrainian Flamingo missiles.

When asked about a possible return to government, Fedorov gave no definitive answer.

“We’ll see soon. But in any case, all my work will be aimed at ending the war and rebuilding Ukraine,” he said.