Key facts
- A Ukrainian Flamingo cruise missile struck the Avitek factory in Kirov, Russia.
- Six factory workers were killed and 26 injured in the attack.
- The Avitek factory produces interceptor missiles and aircraft parts for Russia's war effort.
- The strike was part of a broader attack on Russian territory, including Wildberries warehouses.
A major factory in Kirov, Russia, producing missile and aviation parts, was struck by a Ukrainian Flamingo cruise missile, resulting in casualties. Local authorities reported six deaths and 26 injuries among factory workers. The Avitek facility, part of the Almaz-Antey defense conglomerate, manufactures components for air defense systems like Tor and Osa, as well as aircraft parts used in Russia's ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
Governor Aleksandr Sokolov confirmed the missile attack on the city, located approximately 800 kilometers northeast of Moscow. Images circulating on social media showed smoke emanating from the factory. President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged Ukraine's role in the strike, emphasizing that the targeted facility supplied systems used against Ukrainian cities.
The Flamingo missile, produced by Fire Point, was identified as the weapon used in the attack. Kirov's distance from Ukrainian-controlled territory suggests the Flamingo, with its substantial warhead, was necessary for such a strike. This incident was part of a larger coordinated attack on Russian territory, which also included the destruction of three warehouses belonging to the e-commerce company Wildberries.
Ukraine has increasingly targeted Russian infrastructure, including oil and gas facilities and defense production sites, over the past year. While drones are often employed against softer targets, the Flamingo's heavy warhead makes it suitable for larger military installations, such as the Titan-Barrikady plant in Volgograd, which was previously struck by the same missile type.