Zelensky Confirms Flamingo Missile Strikes Deep in Russian Territory

President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on Saturday, Aug. 15, that Ukrainian forces executed long-range strikes targeting strategic facilities in Russia, including the use of “Flamingo“ missiles against an aerospace plant in the Samara region. In a statement on Telegram, Zelensky detailed the outcomes of what he termed deep strikes into Russian territory.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. He confirmed that the Progress Space Rocket Centre, a key enterprise within the Russian state corporation Roscosmos involved in electronics production, was struck in the Samara region. Zelensky explicitly stated that “Flamingo” missiles were utilized for this attack, noting the facility is located approximately 900 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The president also reported that long-range weapons struck the Savasleyka airfield in the Nizhny Novgorod region. He specified that the base, situated roughly 700 kilometers from Ukraine, hosts aircraft used as carriers for Russian missiles targeting Ukrainian cities and villages. Furthermore, Zelensky confirmed an attack on an oil facility in the port of Ust-Luga in the Leningrad region, located over 800 kilometers from the border, stating that the necessary damage to the target was recorded. According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck the “Progress” Rocket and Space Center in Samara. A direct hit on the target was confirmed, followed by a fire on the facility’s grounds. Other Topics of Interest Polish Pilecki Institute Websites Hacked With Russian Propaganda Hackers breached the websites of a Polish historical institute, posting Russian propaganda and anti-Ukrainian narratives. The “Progress” Rocket and Space Center is one of the key enterprises in the Russian Federation’s rocket and space industry, producing launch vehicles of the “Soyuz” family. These are used to launch Russian spacecraft for military, reconnaissance, and communications purposes into orbit. In particular, the “Soyuz-2.1b” is used to deploy the Russian “Rassvet” satellite constellation – a broadband satellite communications system that Russia positions as an analogue to Starlink.The Progress Rocket and Space Center also manufactures Earth observation satellites, which the enemy uses for reconnaissance purposes. The extent of the damage is being assessed. In addition, the Savasleika airfield in the Nizhny Novgorod region of the Russian Federation was struck. A direct hit on the target was recorded, followed by a fire on the airfield grounds. “Savasleika” is used, in particular, to base and deploy MiG-31K interceptor fighters – carriers of the Kh-47M2 “Kinzhal” aeroballistic missiles. Prior reports of Samara aerospace plant strikes The presidential confirmation followed reports from earlier on Saturday regarding explosions at industrial aerospace enterprises in Samara. Following the initial blasts, Denis Shtilerman, chief designer at the Ukrainian defense company Fire Point, published footage depicting the launch of an FP-5 “Flamingo” missile. Samara region Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev reported a missile strike on an unnamed industrial facility, while Mayor Ivan Noskov stated that the city’s industrial infrastructure sustained localized damage. Open-source intelligence analysts reviewing images of the site identified the location as the shared industrial zone of the Aviakor aviation plant and the Progress Space Rocket Centre. Progress manufactures Soyuz-2 carrier rockets and space satellites, while Aviakor produces and maintains aircraft. Concurrent drone activity in Crimea The strikes on Russian territory coincided with reports of drone activity in occupied Crimea on Saturday morning. Local residents reported explosions in Sevastopol and the Bakhchysarai district. Following the blasts, local Telegram channels reported power outages in Sevastopol and a fire in the Balaklava area. Russian occupation authorities did not issue an immediate statement regarding the incidents. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.