Saturday, February 21, 2026-Ukraine has carried out a long-range strike on a major Russian missile production facility deep inside Russian territory, marking one of the most striking blows to Moscow’s defense industry in the ongoing conflict. Ukrainian forces said they used domestically developed cruise missiles to hit the Votkinsk Machine Building Plant, a key state-owned enterprise in Russia’s Udmurt Republic that produces ballistic missiles, including short-range Iskander systems as well as larger intercontinental variants.
The facility lies roughly 1,400 km east of Ukraine’s border, well within Russian territory, underscoring the expanding reach of Ukraine’s missile capabilities. Reports indicate fires and significant damage at the site, with several local residents sharing footage showing thick smoke rising over the complex.
Regional authorities in Udmurtia confirmed that Ukrainian drones or missiles struck “one of the republic’s facilities” overnight, resulting in damage and injuries to nearby individuals, though they did not explicitly name the factory. Independent analysts and Telegram channels have identified the struck site as the Votkinsk plant based on resident-captured visuals and open-source intelligence.
The attack coincided with other Ukrainian long-range operations targeting what Kyiv describes as critical elements of Russia’s military and energy infrastructure, including a reported hit on a gas processing facility in the Samara region.
The strike comes at a sensitive moment as peace negotiations remain stalled and fighting continues, with both sides seeking leverage. For Ukraine, targeting Russia’s missile production capacity not only disrupts Moscow’s ability to wage long-range strikes but also sends a strategic message about Kyiv’s expanding offensive reach. The reported attack has triggered a fresh round of diplomatic and military assessments across Europe and beyond, highlighting ongoing tensions and the high stakes of the conflict’s evolving dynamics.
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