Ukraine Strikes Savasleyka Airbase and Samara Roscosmos Facility with Flamingo Missiles
Ukraine struck Russia's Savasleyka military airbase in Nizhny Novgorod region and the Progress Rocket Space Center in Samara Oblast with domestically produced Flamingo missiles amid Russia strikes that have targeted Ukrainian cities, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed. [1]
Ukrainian Strikes on Russian Targets
The Savasleyka airbase, located about 700 kilometers from Ukraine, hosts MiG-31K fighter jets capable of carrying Kinzhal ballistic missiles used to strike Ukrainian cities. [1] Explosions were reported at the Progress Rocket Space Center in Samara, roughly 900 kilometers from Ukraine's border, which produces electronics for Roscosmos. [1] Ukrainian forces struck Russia's Savasleyka military airbase and a key Roscosmos facility in Samara Oblast using domestically produced Flamingo missiles. [1] Russian monitoring channels reported explosions and fires around Savasleyka military airbase in Nizhny Novgorod region. [2] The base hosts MiG-31 aircraft. [2] Zelensky said the progress center lies around 900 kilometers from Ukraine's border, while the Savasleyka airbase is approximately 700 kilometers from Ukraine. [1] The strikes followed a series of Ukrainian strikes on Russian military, port and energy infrastructure. [2]
Zelensky's Confirmation and Context
President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the strikes on Aug. 15. [1] "The Savasleyka airfield, where the carriers of Russian missiles that strike our cities and villages are based, was also reached by our long-range sanctions," Zelensky said. [1] "It is about 700 kilometers from Ukraine," he added. [1] "The progress center, which was involved, among other things, in producing electronics, was hit. Flamingo missiles were used — a good achievement," Zelensky said. [1] He linked the operations to efforts to diminish Russia's capacity to attack Ukraine with missiles from the targeted airbase. [1]
MiG-31 fighter jet at Savasleyka airbase in Russia. — Source: helsinkitimes
Russian Official Response
Samara Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev reported a strike on an industrial facility with authorities assessing casualties and damage. [1] Fedorishchev earlier said that missiles had struck an "industrial facility" in the region without identifying the site. [1] Authorities were still determining whether there were casualties or additional damage, he added. [1]
Recent Russian Attacks on Ukraine
The strikes follow recent Russia strikes on Ukraine that killed civilians, including a three-month-old infant and steel plant workers, using ballistic and cruise missiles. [1] On Aug. 11, Russian forces struck Zaporizhzhia and Kyiv using North Korean ballistic missiles and Zircon cruise missiles, authorities reported. [1] The attack killed seven workers of the Zaporizhstal steel plant and injured a total of 24 in Zaporizhzhia. [1] One more civilian was injured in Kyiv. [1] A Russian ballistic missile attack on Aug. 8 killed four, including a three-year-old child, in Ukraine's capital and Kyiv Oblast. [1] Another ballistic missile attack on Aug. 5 killed 17 people. [1] Russian attacks killed at least one person and injured 49 others across Ukraine over the past day, local authorities said on Aug. 15. [4] Russian forces attacked Ukraine overnight on Aug. 15 with 152 Shahed-type drones and loitering munitions. [4] Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 124 drones. [4] In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a 3-month-old child was killed and 11 people were injured, including two children. [4] In Kherson Oblast, Russian forces targeted 25 settlements, injuring 28 people, including a child. [4] In Sumy Oblast, Russian attacks injured four people. [4] In Donetsk Oblast, Russian forces injured one person in Sloviansk. [4] In southeastern Zaporizhzhia Oblast, two people were injured. [4] In northeastern Kharkiv Oblast, three people were injured. [4] Russian forces used missiles, guided aerial bombs, Lancet and Molniya drones, FPV drones, and other unmanned systems. [4]
Russian forces attack a combine harvester in a Zaporizhzhia Oblast field, injuring two people. — Source: ukrainskapravda
Pattern of Ukrainian Long-Range Operations
Ukraine has conducted other recent long-range strikes on Russian infrastructure, including the Ust-Luga port in Leningrad Oblast on Aug. 14 and the Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat oil refinery on Aug. 13. [1] Overnight on Aug. 14, Ukrainian forces struck the Ust-Luga port in Russia's Leningrad Oblast, damaging two processing plants and sparking a fire. [1] The site is one of Russia's largest ports on the Baltic Sea and holds an oil terminal that serves as a major hub for the export of crude oil and petroleum products. [1] The Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat oil refinery complex in Russia's Republic of Bashkortostan was struck by Ukrainian forces the night prior on Aug. 13. [1] Ukraine regularly strikes military infrastructure deep within Russia and the occupied territories in an effort to diminish Moscow's ability to continue waging its war. [1]
Unverified Damage and Ongoing Developments
The extent of the damage could not be independently verified by the Kyiv Independent. [1] This is a developing story and is being updated. [1] The extent of damage from the latest strikes could not be independently verified. [2]
What to watch next: Further reports on assessments of casualties and damage at the industrial facility in Samara Oblast, along with any updates on Ukrainian strikes on Russian military, port and energy infrastructure.
