Ukraine struck one of Russia’s most strategically important weapons factories on February 21, landing cruise missiles on the Votkinsk Machine Building Plant in the Udmurt Republic, approximately 1,400 km (870 miles) from Ukrainian borders.
The attack used Ukraine’s domestically produced FP-5 “Flamingo” cruise missiles, according to the Ukrainian General Staff. Local Russian authorities confirmed that explosions and fires broke out at the site, injuring 11 people, with three requiring hospitalization.
What the Votkinsk plant actually does
The Votkinsk Machine Building Plant is a state-owned facility that sits at the heart of Russia’s missile production infrastructure. It is one of the primary manufacturing sites for the Iskander short-range ballistic missile system, which has been a workhorse of Russia’s strike campaign against Ukrainian urban areas and critical infrastructure throughout the conflict.
Initial reports from the area referenced drones, but these were later clarified to be cruise missiles, specifically the FP-5 “Flamingo” variant.
