(SAMARA, RUSSIA) – Ukrainian Defence Forces have struck the Progress Rocket and Space Centre in Samara overnight, an enterprise critical to Russia’s space programme and its attempts to deploy a satellite network comparable to Starlink.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed the strike on the Progress facility and the Savasleyka airfield in Nizhny Novgorod region. Hits were recorded at both sites, followed by fires. The full extent of the damage is still being clarified.
The attack was carried out using FP-5 Flamingo missiles. Footage of the launch was shared on X by Denys Shtilerman, Chief Designer at Fire Point. Two cruise missiles were likely fired.
The Progress Rocket and Space Centre is a key manufacturer of Soyuz family launch vehicles, including the Soyuz-2.1b rocket. These rockets are used to place Russian military, reconnaissance and communications satellites into orbit. The plant also produces Earth remote sensing spacecraft used for reconnaissance.
The Soyuz-2.1b is central to the Rassvet programme, a Russian project to build its own broadband satellite constellation. The operator is Bureau 1440, part of ICS Holding. The system is presented by Moscow as an analogue of the American Starlink network.
Serhii Beskrestnov, a freelance adviser to the Ukrainian president, has said the main threat if Russia creates its own Starlink equivalent is the ability to control attack drones against Ukrainian territory online via satellites.
Military expert Oleksandr Kovalenko explained that roughly 250 satellites would be needed in orbit to provide continuous space based communications for the Russian military grouping in Ukraine around the clock. Russia has already launched 32 satellites, providing about an hour of communications. Each Soyuz-2.1b launch carries 16 satellites. Kovalenko estimates approximately 16 further launches would be required.
The strike was preemptive, as the Soyuz-2.1b is manufactured at the Samara plant. Kovalenko believes the main objective was to suspend the Rassvet deployment. However, the attack also impacts Russia’s entire space programme, since Soyuz-2.1A and 2.1B modifications are Russia’s primary launch vehicles for any space launch.
“Russia has already lost its leadership in terms of launching carrier rockets into space, but if this enterprise is lost, then it can generally be said that Russia is no longer a spacefaring nation,” Kovalenko said.
Two buildings where onboard electrical equipment, instruments and printed circuit boards are assembled were hit. This includes the carrier’s control system, cable network and instrument compartment. Kovalenko noted that work in workshops 106A and 106B takes place under maximum sterile conditions. Damage to these workshops will seriously slow the entire production process.
The expert expects Ukraine to strike this enterprise more than once, especially as Russian forces are attempting to begin repairing the damaged facilities.
The Savasleyka airfield, also struck overnight, is used to base and operate MiG-31K interceptor fighters, the carriers of Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the strike using Flamingo missiles on a Roscosmos enterprise and other targets.
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