Ukraine's FP‑9 missile test intercepted by Russia's S‑400 air defence

On 1 July, Russian air‑defence forces reported shooting down a high‑altitude projectile over the Moscow region, identified by analysts as Ukraine's first long‑range tactical ballistic missile attempt. The missile is believed to be the newly developed FP‑9, a short‑range, ground‑to‑ground ballistic system produced by the private firm Fire Point. It reportedly carries an 800 kg warhead, can travel up to Mach 6, and has a maximum range of about 850 km, capable of reaching Moscow from Ukrainian‑controlled territory.

Ukraine has not officially confirmed the launch, but the interception by an S‑400 system marks the first reported use of the FP‑9 in combat. Experts say the failure will likely prompt technical revisions before future attempts. The FP‑9 is part of Kyiv's effort to acquire indigenous long‑range strike capability after its stock of Soviet‑era Tochka‑U missiles ran low and Western‑supplied ATACMS were scarce. The incident underscores the evolving missile competition between Kyiv and Moscow amid the ongoing war.