(KYIV) – Satellite imagery has confirmed significant damage to Russia’s only Soyuz rocket production facility in Samara following a Ukrainian Flamingo missile strike, while separate footage has verified the complete destruction of a major Wildberries logistics hub near Moscow.
The imagery, analysed by open source intelligence outlet Suchomimus, reveals at least two direct hits on Building 106A at the Progress Rocket and Space Centre in Samara, Samara Oblast. The facility is responsible for mounting onboard electrical equipment, control systems, cable networks and instrument compartments of Soyuz rockets.
Analysis of the satellite images shows the first Flamingo missile penetrated the roof and detonated inside the building. A second hole in the roof appears to be blast damage rather than a direct impact, as the cross beams of the supporting roof structure remain visible. A third area of damage, measuring 85 metres long and 35 metres wide, indicates where most of the destruction occurred.
“Spacecraft are very complex things with very specialised construction. Russia can’t now just decide to do this work in the nearby hangar because the equipment needed won’t be there. So this facility is now more than likely out of action,” the analyst stated.
A fourth area of roof damage was identified as pre-existing and visible on older Google Maps imagery, indicating that part of the complex was already out of use before the strike.
The Progress facility is Russia’s sole developer of Soyuz space rockets, which are used to launch Rassvet satellites, the Kremlin’s intended counterpart to the Starlink constellation. Russia does not maintain a large stockpile of Soyuz rockets, as they are produced continuously for immediate use. The destruction of the factory therefore threatens to halt Russian space launches once current reserves are exhausted.
“The destroyed and what’s the current few that Russia has are gone. No more space flights. So this for me is the best Flamingo strike to date,” the analyst concluded.
Separate satellite imagery has confirmed the complete destruction of the Wildberries warehouse hub at Koledino near Moscow. The main warehouse has been burned out entirely, with nothing remaining. An expansion section at the topmost part of the site was also hit but survived. Another building at the top right of the site was destroyed, though this was caused by an earlier drone strike on the same facility several weeks ago.
A further strike on a warehouse at Domodedovo has also been documented. Analysts suggest this facility may have been rented by Wildberries as overflow storage, or used to hide goods from the main facility in the hope they would not be targeted. That warehouse was completely destroyed by drone strikes.
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