Satellite Imagery Shows Damage at Votkinsk After Flamingo Strike; Zelensky Says All Missiles Hit Targets
Satellite Imagery of the Votkinsk industrial complex shows visible damage to a workshop following a long-range Ukrainian strike, and President Volodymyr Zelensky said the locally made Flamingo missiles reached targets roughly 1, 400 km away. The images and Mr. Zelensky's remarks matter now because they tie physical evidence to Kyiv's claim of precision strikes deep inside Russian territory and highlight questions about production, interception and regional military movements.
Satellite Imagery: Workshop Roof Gaping and Fire Damage at Votkinsk
Open-source groups published satellite imagery that appears to show a gaping hole in the roof of one workshop at the Votkinsk plant and clear signs of fire damage. The visual evidence follows reports that a plant in Votkinsk, in Russia's Udmurt Republic, was targeted on the night of February 21. Analysts described the damage as extensive; one expert characterized the attack as "significant but not critical. "
Zelensky and Jonas Gahr Støre: Range, Hits and Industry Impact
President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking at a joint press conference with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, said Ukraine "carried out precise strikes with Flamingo missiles" at a range of 1, 400 kilometers and called the result "a real success for our industry. " He declined to disclose the number of Flamingo missiles used, noting that some were intercepted by Russian air defenses and some were not, but asserting that "most importantly, all missiles that were launched reached their target. "
Mr. Zelensky also warned that Russian forces are trying to track Flamingo production. He said production lines had to be renovated after earlier strikes and that manufacturers will increase output, subject to funding and the availability of certain components.
Votkinsk Production: Iskander and Oreshnik, and a Plant Profile
The Votkinsk complex produces Iskander ballistic missiles and Oreshnik missiles, and has also been linked to components for the submarine-launched Bulava. Ukrainian officials earlier described the target as an industrial plant in Votkinsk about 860 miles from the Ukrainian border; other accounts described the strike distance as nearly 900 miles. Kyiv has compared its ground-launched Flamingo to the US Tomahawk, arguing the Flamingo is cheaper to make and has a claimed longer-range figure put at 1, 900 miles by Ukrainian officials in other statements.
Russian Response: Interceptions, Hospitalizations and Defense Claims
Russia's defense ministry said it shot down 77 Ukrainian drones on Saturday, while not mentioning missile threats. Alexander Brechalov, governor of the Udmurt Republic, said an unspecified facility in the region had been attacked and that three people were sent to hospital; he did not confirm the weapon type and warned of drone threats over the region. Kyiv described the event as part of a large wave of drones and missiles launched into Russia that evening, calling it one of its biggest long-range attacks.
Flamingo Production and Operational Details from FirePoint and Kyiv
Ukraine is still scaling Flamingo production. The ground-launched Flamingo takes up to 40 minutes to prepare for launch. The missile's manufacturer, FirePoint, had previously indicated ambitions to produce up to seven missiles a day by the end of 2025. Kyiv has acknowledged that manufacturing was affected by a recent Russian strike and has urged work to "increase quantity, " while stressing that output depends on funding and the availability of certain components.
Broader Context: Military Movements, Verification Work and Other Incidents
Verification teams using open-source intelligence, satellite imagery, fact-checking and data analysis published a running feed of related material throughout the day. Verify Live journalist Thomas Copeland and contributors Richard Irvine-Brown and Alex Murray flagged the Votkinsk imagery and other items, including satellite images of damage and videos. Aviation enthusiasts filmed three US Air Force F-22 fighters taking off from RAF Lakenheath on Tuesday; US officials indicated F-22 fighters were on their way to Israel and that some had already arrived. Separately, the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford was seen departing a port in Greece and appearing to head toward the eastern Mediterranean as part of a US military build-up near Iran.
The verification feed also highlighted a shopping centre on fire in the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia after a wave of Russian strikes overnight, and documented how artificial intelligence had been used to spread a false claim that a Mexican cartel had captured a woman who helped authorities track down its leader. What makes this notable is the way remote sensing, public footage and rapid verification are being used simultaneously to trace battlefield events and disinformation in near real time.
The combination of satellite images, official statements and on-the-ground accounts links the physical damage at Votkinsk to a campaign of long-range Ukrainian strikes and to ongoing debates about missile production, interception rates and regional military posturing.
