A fire broke out at a defense facility in Kirov following a missile attack attributed to Ukrainian forces. Reports suggest that employees were not evacuated during the incident.
Analysis by Astra of social media footage confirmed that the attack targeted the Aviatek plant, known for producing guided missiles and aviation systems.
The facility specializes in manufacturing surface-to-air missiles, targeting drones, and ejection seats, and it is involved in the production of the Tor missile system and various missile components. It also manufactures and repairs ejection seats for Su-34 and Su-57 fighter jets.
Fire Point’s chief designer, Denis Shtilerman, hinted on social media that the strike involved Flamingo missiles. He shared a post about the attack along with a flamingo emoji, implying a connection to his company’s weapon.
While he released a video of a missile launch, he did not clarify whether it was the Flamingo that hit Kirov, as other locations in Russia also experienced fire incidents, including warehouses for the marketplace Wildberries in St. Petersburg.
Aviatek is currently under sanctions from the United States, Ukraine, and other nations.
Background
- The Flamingo missile, developed in Ukraine, gained its name due to an early production flaw that resulted in a pink color.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky labeled it as the most successful weapon produced in Ukraine, with mass production anticipated to begin in early 2026.
- Ukrainian military officials have confirmed successful strikes using Flamingo missiles against targets in occupied territories and in Russia.
- Shtilerman previously stated that the Flamingo missile could fly at a height of just 15 meters above ground.
