Ukraine could begin test flights of a domestically developed ballistic missile toward Moscow as early as this summer, according to the co-founder of Ukrainian defense company Fire Point. Speaking in an interview with journalist Alesya Batsman, Fire Point co-founder Denys Shtilerman said the company expects to complete engine testing this month before moving to flight trials of a missile designed to reach the Russian capital.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “We will test the engine this month and expect to begin test flights in the near future,” Shtilerman said. According to him, the missile’s airframe, guidance systems, and other key components have already been completed, leaving engine validation as the final major hurdle. If the first launch is successful, subsequent test flights could be directed toward Moscow. “I expect that this summer, or at the latest in early autumn, we will begin test flights toward Moscow,” Shtilerman said. The developer said Fire Point is preparing for serial production alongside testing rather than waiting until the project reaches maturity. The company plans to manufacture between 10 and 20 missiles for test launches, with production potentially increasing to dozens of units once the weapon receives official codification and procurement approval. Shtilerman said decisions on operational targets would be made by Ukraine’s military, but suggested that strikes on “key symbolic targets” in Moscow could serve as a deterrent against Russia’s continued attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure.