Satellite Imagery Shows Damage to Votkinsk Factory After Zelensky Says Flamingo Missiles Reached 1,400 km
Satellite imagery released in the wake of a long-range Ukrainian strike appears to show extensive damage to a missile-production plant in Votkinsk, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country’s Flamingo missiles hit targets 1, 400 km away — a development that Kyiv cast as a victory for its arms industry.
Satellite Imagery shows workshop roof blasted at Votkinsk
Open-source satellite imagery published after the attack shows one workshop at the Votkinsk factory with a gaping hole in its roof and visible signs of fire damage. The images specifically depict damage to a building at the industrial site in Votkinsk, in the Udmurt Republic (Udmurtia).
Zelensky says Flamingo missiles struck targets 1, 400 km away
At a joint press conference with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Zelensky said, “We had precise attacks with the Flamingo missiles on Votkinsk, hitting targets 1, 400 km away. I consider this a real success for our industry. ” He added he would not disclose how many Flamingo missiles were used, and noted that “some were intercepted by Russian air defenses, some were not, and there were precise hits. ” Zelensky emphasized that “most importantly, all missiles that were launched reached their target. ”
Local and Russian accounts of the strike
Ukrainian officials earlier described the strike as reaching a plant in Votkinsk, an industrial town some 860 miles from the Ukrainian border; other statements put the flight at nearly 900 miles. The Votkinsk plant is known to produce ballistic missiles for the Iskander system and submarine-launched Bulava missiles, and one account said the facility also produces Oreshnik missiles.
Russia has not issued an official confirmation that the factory was hit. 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 say whether Flamingo missiles were used and warned about drone threats over the region.
Drone and missile barrage the same evening
Officials in Kyiv launched a large wave of drones and missiles that same evening, described as one of the country’s biggest long-range attacks. Russia’s defense ministry said it shot down 77 Ukrainian drones on Saturday. Zelensky declined to say how many missiles or drones Ukraine launched in total, while noting there were interceptions and some direct hits.
Other related military movements and footage
Beyond the strike, military movements and media captured related activity: an aircraft carrier was seen leaving port in Greece and departing the Greek island of Crete, appearing to head toward the eastern Mediterranean as part of a wider US military build-up near Iran. Aviation footage shows three F-22 fighter jets taking off from RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk on Tuesday; US officials were cited as saying F-22s were on their way to Israel and that some had already arrived. Separately, images verified by open-source examiners show a shopping centre on fire in Zaporizhzhia after a wave of overnight Russian strikes. Analysts also noted an instance of AI being used to spread a false claim that a Mexican cartel had captured a woman who helped authorities track its leader.
Industry strain, production goals and next steps
Zelensky said Russian forces have tried to track Flamingo production and that manufacturers “will increase output, ” while stressing this depends on funding and the availability of certain components. Kyiv has compared the turbofan-powered Flamingo to the Tomahawk, saying the Flamingo is cheaper per unit and has been touted with a longer range figure of 1, 900 miles. Ground-launched Flamingo missiles take up to 40 minutes to prepare for launch. Reports last October indicated the manufacturer FirePoint hoped to produce up to seven Flamingo missiles a day by the end of 2025; Kyiv has also warned production was affected by a recent Russian strike and that it needs to “work on increasing quantity. ”
Recovery of the damaged site and follow-up assessments are under way, and manufacturers and officials have indicated a focus on increasing production capacity. FirePoint’s stated production goal—up to seven missiles a day by the end of 2025—remains the next public milestone tied to the Flamingo program.
