Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Joins Board of Ukrainian Missile Manufacturer
Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has joined the supervisory board of Fire Point, a fast-growing Ukrainian defense manufacturer known for producing the long-range Flamingo missile.
The Gaze reports this, referring to AP News.
The company has recently drawn significant global attention due to its rapid expansion, foreign partnerships, and ongoing investigations by Ukrainian anti-corruption authorities.
Fire Point, which rose to prominence after Russia’s full-scale invasion, has been working to secure a stronger position on international defense markets. As part of this strategy, the company created a supervisory board on November 12, with Pompeo becoming its most high-profile member.
“It is a great honor for us,” said Chief Technology Officer Iryna Terekh. “As we transform into a major international company, we must ensure the highest levels of corporate governance.”
Terekh added that three more members are expected to join the board and that the company wants “a wise advisory council” to help guide its growth.
She also confirmed that Fire Point has hired a major global firm to conduct an independent review of its pricing and production practices after questions were raised about procurement transparency. Terekh noted that an investigation launched by anti-corruption organizations a year ago is still ongoing.
Separately, executives revealed that U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg recently visited one of the company’s facilities during his trip to the country.
Fire Point is currently scaling up output and expanding its international footprint. The company is constructing a new solid rocket fuel plant in Denmark and plans to more than double its production capacity, including the manufacture of long-range cruise missiles.
The Danish government approved a special exemption that allowed the plant to be built in Skrydstrup, overriding more than 20 existing laws and regulations.
Fire Point’s rapid rise has attracted attention from Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU). Detectives are examining whether the company inflated prices for components or overstated the number of drones in contracts with the Ministry of Defence.
As The Gaze previously reported, former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was among the first to congratulate Kyivstar as it made history by becoming the first Ukrainian company ever listed on Nasdaq.
Read more on The Gaze: Why the West Needs Ukraine in Its Defense Industry