Ukraine has claimed responsibility for a major missile strike deep inside Russian territory, targeting a military-industrial facility more than 900 kilometres from the frontline as Kyiv intensifies its long-range attacks on critical Russian infrastructure.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said overnight strikes by FP-5 Flamingo cruise missiles hit a military plant in Cheboksary, the capital of Russia’s Chuvash Republic, which manufactures components used in drones and missiles deployed by Russian forces.
In a statement posted on Telegram on Wednesday, Zelensky said the facility played a key role in supplying Russia’s military operations in Ukraine.
“Overnight, Ukrainian FP-5 Flamingos hit a military plant in Cheboksary that supplies the occupier’s army with components for drones and missiles,” he said.
The Ukrainian leader also shared footage purportedly showing a missile heading toward its target, followed by large plumes of smoke rising from the area.
Ukraine’s military later identified the target as the VNIIR-Progress plant and reported that a fire had broken out at the site following the strike.
Local authorities confirmed the attack. Chuvash Republic Governor Oleg Nikolaev said three people were injured in the missile strike on Cheboksary but did not confirm whether the military facility sustained damage.
Multiple Targets Hit
In addition to the strike on Cheboksary, Ukrainian officials said military operations also targeted the Russian-occupied port city of Mariupol on the Sea of Azov, an oil refinery in Russia’s Samara region, and a so-called “shadow fleet” oil tanker operating in the Black Sea.
The attacks form part of Kyiv’s broader campaign to disrupt Russia’s military logistics and energy infrastructure.
While Ukraine has increasingly relied on drone strikes against targets inside Russia, missile attacks at such distances remain relatively uncommon.
The FP-5 Flamingo missile reportedly carries a 1,150-kilogram warhead and has a range of up to 3,000 kilometres, placing Moscow and several other major Russian cities within striking distance.
Russia Reports Massive Drone Interceptions
Russia’s Defence Ministry said its air defence systems intercepted or destroyed 326 Ukrainian drones across several regions overnight.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Air Force reported shooting down 181 of the 207 drones launched by Russia during the same period. Ukrainian authorities acknowledged 21 direct strikes across 14 locations.
Regional officials in Ukraine said at least two people were killed and 26 others injured, including two children, as a result of Russian attacks over the past 24 hours.
War Shows No Signs of Easing
The latest escalation comes as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict remain stalled.
Ukraine and its Western allies have continued investing in the development of long-range missile capabilities aimed at increasing the cost of Russia’s invasion and pressuring Moscow toward negotiations.
However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly dismissed proposals for direct talks.
Last week, Putin said he saw no reason to meet Zelensky despite calls from the Ukrainian leader for face-to-face negotiations aimed at ending the war.
The Kremlin has maintained that Russian forces are advancing along the front line, although independent assessments suggest territorial gains have remained limited and the battlefield situation has largely stagnated in recent months
