Vladimir Putin has been dealt a humiliating blow as drones, reportedly from Ukraine, struck a major Russian missile plant. The strike, which reportedly used Kyiv’s domestically produced Flamingo cruise missiles, has caused significant damage to the huge Votkinsk factory – Russia’s main Iskander-M short range missiles manufacturer. Reports from Russia claimed 11 people have been injured in the attack.
The factory also reportedly produces the new Oreshnik medium-range missile, which has been used twice against Ukraine since the unlawful Russian invasion of the neighbouring country started. The plant in the Udmurtia region also makes the hulking Topol-M intercontinental strategic missiles. All these missile types are nuclear capable, and key elements of Putin’s military arsenal. Reports claim an explosion and “bright flash” were followed by a column of smoke when the strike came. Ukraine hasn’t claimed responsibility for the attack.
Putin’s regional head in Udmurtia, Alexander Brechalov, admitted a strike on “one of the objects”, claiming the damage was by long-range drones.
The strike provoked fury from Russian war channels over a perceived failure in Putin’s air defences. A channel called 2 Majors said: “Any strike by the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Udmurtia raises some questions about the organisation of air defence work.
“How could this anything have flown more than 1,400 km over our country, bypassing all air defence positioning areas?”
In a separate blow to the Kremlin, Ukraine is believed to have made large territorial gains on the frontline.
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“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 [116 square miles] have been liberated,” said Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.
A key factor is believed to have been Elon Musk halting use of Starlink internet receivers by Russian troops.
If confirmed, these would be the largest territorial gains for several years by Ukraine. In a further blow to Putin, Russia was also revealed to have bombed its own territory in Belgorod region twice since 30 January. The region was hit with FAB-250 and FAB-500 bombs, making eight such cases this year – all failed strikes on Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Russia continues to rain hell on Ukraine. Russian strikes left a child, five, a girl, 17, as well as a pensioner, 70, wounded in Sumy in shelling of houses.
A huge fire erupted in Odesa, after the Black Sea port was again the target of a strike which hit a power plant and a school.
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