Ukraine launches devastating long-range cruise missile strike 900 miles into the center of Russia as they take the battle again to Putin
Ukrainian forces launched an overnight attack on a major Russian missile plant.
The attack was confirmed by the governor of the remote southern Russian region of Udmurtia on Saturday, who said the strike had significantly damaged a site in his region.
‘A site in Udmurtia has come under attack from drones. There has been damage and [injury] as a result,’ Alexander Brechalov said in a video posted on Telegram.
Unofficial Ukrainian military blogs said Ukrainian-made long-range Flamingo drones had attacked a plant manufacturing missiles, including a short-range Iskander missile and intercontinental Topol-M missiles, in Vinotkinsk, about 900 miles from Ukraine.
Footage shows the plant after the Flamingo strike, in which a large column of smoke can be seen floating towards the sky.
The unofficial Russian Telegram channel SHOT, which often quotes contacts in the security services, said residents of Votkinsk reported hearing at least three explosions and the humming of drones.
Russian military blogs also reported an attack that triggered a fire at a gas processing plant in the southeastern Russian city of Samara.
Flamingo missiles have a range of 1,865 miles and a 2,535lb warhead, and have been likened to unmanned jets and were deployed along with Liutyi military drones.
Ukrainian forces launched an overnight attack on a major Russian missile plant
Unofficial Ukrainian military blogs said Ukrainian-made long-range Flamingo drones had attacked a plant manufacturing missiles
The Flamingo is the centrepiece of Ukraine’s new missile technology, developed to counter Putin’s endless war.
The rockets are capable of hitting deep inside European Russia and even western Siberia.
Russia’s capital city, Moscow, is conveniently within range.
Serial production of the missile is underway in the Carpathian Mountains, say reports, and its first combat use was in the summer, though details of its deployment are scarce
The Flamingo is not subject to Western vetoes on its use to strike targets inside Russia, as is the case with missiles supplied by the US, Britain and France.
It is reportedly resistant to Russian electronic warfare jamming.
It has been described in Russia as resembling the Soviet jet UAV Tu-143 Reys and the German cruise missile V-1.
In a separate blow to the Kremlin, Ukraine has made large territorial gains on the frontline.
Footage shows the plant after the Flamingo strike, in which a large column of smoke can be seen floating towards the sky
The Flamingo is the centrepiece of Ukraine’s new missile technology, developed to counter Putin’s endless war
A rescuer walks in front of an apartment building hit by a Russian air strike in the town of Komyshuvakha, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine February 20, 2026
In this handout photograph taken and released by the press service of the 93rd Kholodnyi Yar Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces on February 8, 2026, local residents stand next to burnt-out cars in the courtyard of a damaged residential building following an air attack in Kramatorsk, Donetsk region, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine
‘I won’t go into too many details, but today I can congratulate our army first and foremost – all the defence forces – because as of today, 300 [square] kilometres have been liberated,’ said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
However, Ukraine’s Energy Minister on Friday said that he expects new strikes by Russian forces as repair crews proceed with repairs to damage to electricity and heating networks inflicted by previous attacks.
Denys Shmyhal, writing on Telegram after a daily meeting devoted to energy issues, said crews were making progress as weather conditions had improved, with overnight temperatures now a few degrees below freezing.
‘At the same time, we have information about the enemy preparing new strikes on the energy sector,’ Shmyhal said, without providing further evidence.
‘Therefore, the task for all services is not only quick restoration but also maximum readiness for the next challenges.’
Russian missile and drone attacks have caused serious damage to Ukraine’s energy systems, with a series of nighttime strikes leaving hundreds of apartment buildings without heating or power.
Shmyhal said 200 repair crews were operating round the clock in Kyiv, which had borne the brunt of a wave of attacks in the past few weeks.
Repair work was also proceeding in the Black Sea port of Odesa, where energy facilities were hit this week and in frontline regions.
