Kyiv says its forces hit the Progress rocket and space centre in Samara and Savasleyka airbase as Ukraine expands strikes against Russian military-linked infrastructure deep behind the frontline.

Ukraine Reports Strikes Deep Inside Russia

Ukraine said on Saturday that its forces carried out fresh long-range strikes against strategic targets deep inside Russia, including the Progress Rocket and Space Centre in Samara and the Savasleyka military airfield in the Nizhny Novgorod region.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the strikes were part of Kyiv’s “long-range sanctions” strategy, aimed at weakening Russia’s ability to sustain its war effort.

The Ukrainian General Staff separately confirmed a strike on the Progress facility, saying a hit was recorded and a fire broke out at the site.

Flamingo Missiles Used in Samara Strike

Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces used domestically developed Flamingo missiles to target the Progress facility in Samara, located roughly 900 kilometres from the Ukrainian border.

The Progress centre is part of Russia’s aerospace sector and is associated with the production of Soyuz launch vehicles and other space-related equipment. The facility's strategic importance has increased as Russia develops its own satellite capabilities.

The scale of damage at the site remains unclear. Ukrainian officials confirmed the strike and fire, while independent assessments of the facility's operational condition were not immediately available.

Savasleyka Airbase Also Targeted

Ukraine also reported a strike on Savasleyka airbase, a Russian military facility in the Nizhny Novgorod region.

The base is associated with MiG-31 aircraft capable of carrying Kinzhal ballistic missiles, making it an important target in Ukraine’s campaign against Russian long-range strike capabilities. Zelenskyy said the attack caused damage to the airfield.

Reports of explosions and fires around the facility emerged after the overnight attack. However, the precise extent of damage to aircraft or infrastructure has not been independently established.

Russian Officials Confirm Industrial Facility Hit

Samara Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev confirmed that missiles struck an industrial facility in the region but did not identify the specific site.

Authorities were assessing the damage and checking for casualties, according to the information cited in the original report.

The Ukrainian claims came alongside reports of explosions in the region, but several details about the strike remained subject to verification.

Ust-Luga Oil Facility Also Damaged

Zelenskyy also said Ukraine had confirmed damage to an oil facility at Ust-Luga, a major Russian port and energy hub in the Leningrad region.

The reported strike followed an attack on the Baltic Sea port on August 14. Ukraine said two processing plants were damaged and a fire broke out.

Ust-Luga is a major Russian export centre for crude oil and petroleum products, making energy infrastructure there strategically important to Moscow's economy.

Kyiv Expands Energy Infrastructure Campaign

The latest strikes form part of a broader Ukrainian campaign against Russian energy and industrial facilities located hundreds or even more than 1,000 kilometres from the frontline.

On August 13, Ukraine’s General Staff said its forces had struck the Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat oil refinery complex in Bashkortostan, approximately 1,300 kilometres from Ukraine.

Such attacks are intended to disrupt fuel production, military logistics and other infrastructure that Ukraine says contributes to Russia's ability to continue the war.

Russia Launches Fresh Drone Attack

Meanwhile, Russia launched another overnight attack against Ukraine on August 15.

The Ukrainian Air Force said Russia deployed 152 Shahed-type drones and loitering munitions during the assault.

The attacks highlight the increasingly long-range character of the conflict, with both Moscow and Kyiv targeting infrastructure far beyond the immediate battlefield.

Long-Range Strikes Raise Stakes

Ukraine’s latest operation demonstrates Kyiv’s growing emphasis on striking strategically important Russian facilities deep inside the country.

The Progress centre, Savasleyka airbase and Ust-Luga energy infrastructure represent different parts of Russia’s military and economic network. Strikes on such locations are designed to create pressure away from the front and potentially disrupt Russia’s ability to produce weapons, operate missile-carrying aircraft and maintain energy exports.

The attacks also underline the expanding role of long-range missiles and drones in the war. While Ukraine has increasingly demonstrated an ability to reach distant targets, Russia continues to launch large-scale aerial attacks against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.

The immediate damage from the latest Ukrainian strikes remains under assessment. But the escalation signals that both sides are continuing to broaden the geographic scope of their attacks as the Russia-Ukraine war enters another phase of long-range warfare.