Ukraine deploys Flamingo missiles in deep strikes on Russian infrastructure; Moscow probes US-Turkiye arms transfer
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirms use of domestically produced cruise missiles to hit Roscosmos-linked sites, while Moscow warns of diplomatic fallout over potential US ammunition transfer via Turkiye.
Ukraine has executed long-range strikes against key Russian military and space infrastructure, utilising domestically produced Flamingo cruise missiles to target facilities in the Samara region and the Moscow area. The attacks, confirmed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, represent a significant escalation in Kyiv’s strategy to degrade Russia’s war-making capabilities from a distance.
Zelenskyy stated that the armed forces successfully struck the Progress Centre in Samara, a primary manufacturer of rockets and electronics for Russia’s state space corporation, Roscosmos. The facility, located approximately 900 kilometres from the Ukrainian border, is integral to Russia’s military and civilian space infrastructure. Zelenskyy described the strike as a “good achievement” and emphasised that the implementation of long-range sanctions is designed to inflict concrete damage on specific facilities to reduce Russia’s war potential.
Concurrent with the strike on the rocket facility, Ukrainian forces targeted the Savasleyka air base in the Moscow region, situated roughly 700 kilometres from the border. Ivan Noskov, the mayor of Samara, confirmed that air defences had repelled a “massive” attack, though he acknowledged that some industrial sites in the region sustained damage. The operations underscore Kyiv’s growing capacity to project power deep into Russian territory.
In the Moscow region, the conflict’s reach extended to civilian areas, with a Ukrainian drone striking a house in the town of Shatura. Governor Andrey Vorobyov reported that two people were injured, including a nine-year-old child whose condition has stabilised. These incidents highlight the widening geographic scope of the conflict and the increasing frequency of cross-border incursions.
Moscow has responded to the military developments by demanding clarification from Washington and Ankara regarding reports of a substantial transfer of US weapons and ammunition from Turkiye to Kyiv. The Russian Foreign Ministry, through spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, warned that such a transfer would cause “serious harm” to Russia’s relations with both nations. The ministry is currently seeking verification of these reports, which allege a significant arsenal of US-origin arms is being held in Turkiye for potential shipment.
The diplomatic friction coincides with continued Russian offensive actions within Ukraine. On Saturday, Russian forces struck an apartment block in the southeastern town of Marhanets, resulting in the death of a three-month-old baby, according to local officials. The dual developments of deep-strike capabilities and escalating diplomatic tensions over arms transfers mark a critical phase in the ongoing conflict.
