Ukraine struck a Russian rocket and space centre in Samara using flamingo missiles, president Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
A “flamingo” missile can carry about a ton of explosives and fly for up to 3,000 km at low heights, reports say. The military also attacked the Savasleyka military airfield, a base for Russian fighter jets, Zelensky added, declaring “new significant results” from deep strikes.
“A good achievement. The distance from our border is about 900 kilometres,” he said of the Samara strike. “Our plan of long-range sanctions against Russia for this war is being implemented, and it is important that Russia’s war potential be reduced. Peace is needed, and this must be evident in Russia – through concrete damage to specific facilities.”
It comes after Nato jets were scrambled on Friday after a drone entered Latvia’s airspace during Ukrainian attacks on Russian ports, according to authorities.
Two Italian Eurofighter jets took off from Lithuania and two Turkish F-16s were scrambled from a base in Estonia in response, Nato spokesperson Allison Hart said.
Russia asks US and Turkey to explain reports of plans to arm Ukraine further
Russia has asked Washington and Ankara to explain reports of possible plans to transfer to Kyiv a "substantial arsenal" of US weapons and ammunition held by Turkey, the spokeswoman for Russia's foreign ministry said on Saturday.
Such a transfer would cause "serious harm ... to our bilateral relations with Washington and Ankara," spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement.
Ukrainian attack strikes industrial infrastructure in Samara region, Russia says
A large-scale Ukrainian attack struck industrial infrastructure in Russia’s southwestern Samara region Saturday, a Russian official said.
Ivan Noskov, head of the region's capital, Samara, said air defense forces had repelled a “massive” missile attack, with “localized damage” to the city’s industrial sites.
He also said that medical assistance has been provided to those injured in the attack, but did not give further details.
Ukraine has stepped up its long-range aerial attacks on Russian military industries and energy facilities, aiming to cut Moscow’s revenue for the war and make Russians feel the consequences of the invasion, now in its fifth year.
While most of Ukraine’s strikes have a range of less than 200 kilometers (125 miles), its longer-range attacks have increased dramatically this year.
It launched three times as many of those strikes in July as it did in January, according to data from ACLED, an independent conflict monitor. Repeatedly hitting deep into Russia has forced its military to stretch air defenses over a larger area.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense said Saturday that it had shot down 598 Ukrainian drones over 19 Russian regions, as well as the Black and Azov Seas and the annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea.
Pictured: A woman stands next to a placard depicting Zelensky made from portraits of the missing Ukrainian servicemen
Recap: Putin puts RFK Jr’s son Conor on wanted list for fighting in Ukraine
Pictured: Relatives and friends attend a funeral ceremony of three years-old boy and his grandparents killed in a Russian drone attack
Watch: CNN interviewer makes Zelensky burst out laughing with final question
Recap: US backs Japan over Putin’s visit to disputed islands
The US has backed Japan in its territorial dispute with Russia after Vladimir Putin visited a group of disputed islands on Thursday.
US Ambassador to Tokyo George Glass said Washington recognises Japanese sovereignty over the islands and remains “unwavering” in its support for Japan.
“The United States remains unwavering in its support of its most important ally and in its recognition of Japanese sovereignty over the Northern Territories,” Glass said on X, using the Japanese name for the Kuril islands visited for the first time by Putin on Thursday.
“At a time when the US-Japan Alliance is dedicated to cultivating prosperity across the Indo-Pacific, we strongly oppose any action that undermines its peace and stability,” Glass added.
Recap: Zelensky mocks Putin over Russia's reliance on North Korea
As Vladimir Putin once again convenes with Kim Jong Un over regional security matters, here is a clip of Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky mocking the Russian president over his reliance on North Korea from earlier this week.
Pictured: Putin visits Samara region space centre attacked by Ukraine
