- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Saturday that Ukrainian forces had struck the Progress Rocket and Space Centre in Russia's Samara region, a facility involved in the manufacturing and operation of space launch vehicles.
- Zelenskyy said Ukraine hit the centre with FP-5 Flamingo cruise missiles, describing it as one of Russian space agency Roscosmos' "key enterprises" and saying it was involved in "electronics production".
- Additional strikes were carried out on Savasleyka air base in the Nizhny Novgorod region - which the Ukrainian leader said housed aircraft used for missile attacks on Ukraine - and an oil facility in Ust-Luga, close to the border with Estonia.
- The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed hits were recorded at both the Progress centre and the air base, and that a fire had broken out on the facilities' grounds.
- Zelenskyy signaled plans for more long-range strikes targeting Russian oil refineries and other facilities, along with operations in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov to limit Moscow's ability to continue the war.
- The General Staff added that the launch vehicles produced at the Progress centre were used to "place Russian military, reconnaissance, and communications spacecraft into orbit."
- The Savasleyka air base is used to operate MiG-31K fighter jets, which the General Staff said were used to carry Kh-47M2 Kinzhal ballistic missiles.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed on Saturday that Ukrainian forces successfully targeted the Progress Rocket and Space Centre in Russia's Samara region using FP-5 Flamingo cruise missiles. This facility is crucial for the Russian space agency Roscosmos and is involved in the production of space launch vehicles.12
Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of these strikes as part of a broader strategy to diminish Russia's military capabilities, stating, "Our plan of long-range sanctions against Russia for this war is being implemented, and it is important that Russia’s war potential be reduced." The strikes also included the Savasleyka air base in Nizhny Novgorod, which houses aircraft used for missile attacks on Ukraine, and an oil facility in Ust-Luga, near Estonia.347
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that both the rocket centre and the air base were hit, resulting in a fire at the facilities. The Progress centre is known for launching military, reconnaissance, and communications satellites into orbit, while the Savasleyka base operates MiG-31K fighter jets that deploy Kh-47M2 Kinzhal ballistic missiles.
Zelenskyy shared footage of the strikes, reiterating the need for peace and concrete damage to Russian facilities, stating, "It is important that Russia's war potential be reduced. Peace is needed, and this must be evident in Russia." He also hinted at future long-range strikes targeting Russian oil refineries and other critical infrastructure.
“The Progress centre produces launch vehicles used to place Russian military, reconnaissance, and communications spacecraft into orbit, per Ukraine's General Staff. Additional strikes hit the Savasleyka air base, home to MiG-31K jets carrying Kinzhal missiles, and an oil facility near Estonia.”
Euronews.com
The Independent
