In Norse mythology, Freyja is the goddess of war, love, and beauty. Iryna Terekh, CEO of Ukrainian defence company Fire Point, sees a modern parallel: “A strange combination, until you look at Ukraine today, where all three coexist.” She wrote this on X, linking the myth to the Joint Declaration on the Establishment of the Integrated Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition, signed in Paris last Monday by the Coalition of the Willing. The initiative, named Freyja, aims to create a modular, lower-cost missile-defence system by merging Ukraine’s frontline experience with European industrial capacity.
Instead of relying on a single manufacturer, participating countries would contribute components—interceptors, radars, command systems—to build an integrated European architecture that complements existing systems like the US Patriot. Just a year ago, Freyja was a concept sketched on a napkin. Fire Point gained prominence with its FP-5 “Flamingo” cruise missile, used by Kyiv for deep strikes inside Russia. Terekh spoke to Euronews the day after the Paris signing, discussing the programme’s potential and the role of German production.
From Napkin to Summit Room
Terekh expressed amazement at the speed of progress: “I never expected that what started as a brief idea, one and a half years ago, with the first discussions taking place on a napkin, would come this far and end up in a room full of leaders, National Security Advisers, decision-makers, CEOs of prominent companies.” She sees the initiative as a long-overdue technological and doctrinal shift for European defence.
When asked about the difference between promised and executed security guarantees, Terekh was blunt: “Security guarantees are written in steel and not in ink.” She considers the Freyja declaration more important than the Budapest memorandum, which offered Ukraine security assurances in exchange for nuclear disarmament. “Execution is the most important part of the job,” she added, noting that business-to-business groundwork is already underway.
The main challenge, she said, is bureaucratic inertia. “The main task for leadership is to remove bureaucratic obstacles, because they sometimes make things worse and help the enemy.” She warned that sabotaging critical processes can be deadly, but expressed confidence in political commitment to focus on technological development while leaders tackle red tape.
Europe’s Complacency Problem
Terekh challenged the argument that Europe can wait until war breaks out to ramp up production. Citing human psychology, she noted that people farther from a threat tend to avoid uncomfortable thoughts. “The closer you are to a threat, the more relaxed you are—because the worst has already happened and you just have to act.” She pointed out that a ballistic missile reaches Kyiv in two to five minutes, Warsaw in seven, Berlin in eight, and Paris in twelve. “The difference is not that big.”
Rather than using threats as motivation, Terekh advocates building a resilient ecosystem that outlasts political cycles. “What we’re trying to build is a resilient defence ecosystem,” she said. The Freyja system is designed to be modular and adaptable, integrating Ukrainian combat data with European manufacturing. This approach could also strengthen ties with partners like Germany, which has been a key supporter of Ukraine’s defence. For context, recent diplomatic moves—such as Aliyev in Berlin: Germany and Azerbaijan Sign Strategic Energy and Trade Pact—show Berlin’s broader strategic engagement in the region.
The potential production of the Flamingo missile in Germany would mark a significant step in deterrence. Terekh emphasised that Ukraine’s battlefield experience provides unique insights into Russian tactics and vulnerabilities. “We can count on us for deep-strike deterrence,” she said, addressing German leaders directly. The Freyja initiative, if successful, could reshape European air defence by reducing reliance on US systems and fostering a more self-sufficient continental capability.
As Europe grapples with the reality of a revanchist Russia, the Freyja programme represents a concrete attempt to turn battlefield lessons into industrial policy. Whether it can overcome the bureaucratic hurdles Terekh identified remains to be seen, but the political will—at least among the Coalition of the Willing—appears strong.
