Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has joined the advisory board of the Ukrainian defense company Fire Point amid a corruption investigation, The Associated Press reports. Fire Point is a company that manufactures the long-range Flamingo missile and long-range drones FP-1 and FP-2.

Ukraine has recently uncovered a $100 million corruption scheme in the energy sector. The European Union assessed the investigation positively, but it must be fully completed. The probe is examining possible links between the company and businessman Tymur Mindich, one of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s closest associates, who ran a "laundromat" scheme and is currently hiding abroad.

An experienced official joins Fire Point as it navigates between breakthrough and investigation

Fire Point’s Chief Technology Officer, Iryna Terekh, has explained that the decision to create an advisory board was made when the company began transforming into a large international structure. According to her, Pompeo’s appointment is a “great honor” for Fire Point.

Pompeo served as CIA head from 2017 to 2018 and as the head of US foreign policy from 2018 to 2021, during US President Donald Trump’s first term. Pompeo has frequently advocated for more substantial support for Ukraine amid Russia’s full-scale war, which began in early 2022, per Euronews. 

Earlier, it also became known that members of Ukraine’s EU-backed anti-corruption agency in Kyiv and the FBI are coordinating actions in the top 2025 energy investigation.

FBI, EU-backed Ukrainian anti-corruption agency coordinate in major nuclear operator scandal, which involves Zelenskyy’s closest associate

A battle for reputation

To enhance its international reputation, Fire Point is now establishing a new plant in Denmark and collaborating with influential industry representatives. At the same time, it plans to expand the production of cruise missiles and more than double its capacity.

However, public attention remains intense amid the ongoing investigation into corruption.

The company’s advisory board was established on 12 November as part of its efforts to strengthen corporate standards. Three more individuals will join the board of directors. Fire Point CTO Iryna Terekh explained that the decision to create the advisory board was made when the company began turning into a major international structure.

Earlier, in an interview with Bloomberg, Zelenskyy said that Kyiv and Washington launched joint production of interceptor drones. The Ukrainian president did not name the specific company producing this weapon.

He also did not specify which model of interceptors is being manufactured or how long the two countries have been producing them.