Russia-Ukraine War: Massive Drone Strikes, Flamingo Missiles And New Threat To NATO

The Russia-Ukraine war saw a major escalation over the weekend as both sides launched long range strikes deep inside each other’s territory, killing civilians and hitting military, industrial and economic targets.

On Sunday, Ukraine launched one of its largest drone attacks on Russia. Moscow said its forces intercepted and destroyed 822 Ukrainian drones across the country. Russian officials said at least six people were killed. The attacks reached areas far from Ukraine, showing the growing range of Kyiv’s weapons.

Ukraine also reported strikes on the Progress rocket centre near Samara, more than 900 kilometres from the Ukrainian border. The facility is linked to Russian rocket technology and electronics. Kyiv also said it attacked the Savasleyka air base in the Nizhny Novgorod region, which is associated with Russian MiG-31 aircraft that can carry Kinzhal missiles.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine used its domestically produced FP-5 Flamingo cruise missile in the attacks. The ground launched missile is reported to have a range of about 3,000 kilometres and a payload of more than one tonne. Ukraine has been increasing its own weapons production as it seeks to reduce its dependence on Western missiles.

Another major target was Wildberries, Russia’s biggest online retailer. Ukrainian drones have hit about 20 of its warehouses since July. The attacks have destroyed large amounts of merchandise and disrupted deliveries for hundreds of thousands of sellers. Kyiv says some goods sold through the platform can have military uses. Moscow rejects the claim.

Russia then launched a fresh wave of missile and drone attacks across Ukraine. Kyiv, Kryvyi Rih, Sumy and Zaporizhzhia were among the areas hit. Russia said it targeted military and industrial sites, fuel facilities and other infrastructure.

Ukraine has also reported that Russia launched more than 1,500 attack drones, nearly 1,550 guided bombs and 66 missiles during the past week, showing the scale of Moscow’s air campaign.

The fighting has now also raised fresh concern outside the two countries. A drone entered Romanian airspace during the weekend, prompting a Spanish NATO fighter to shoot it down. Debris was later found in an uninhabited area. Romania said the drone appeared to be Russian, although its origin was not immediately confirmed.

At the same time, a Telegraph report said Russia has established 10 suspected drone bases and 59 launch sites near Ukraine and Belarus. Some could put NATO countries within range of Russian drones.

The weekend's attacks underline a growing shift in the war: Ukraine is striking deeper into Russia, Moscow is hitting back harder, and the risk of the fighting spilling beyond Ukraine is growing.