(BELGOROD, BELGOROD OBLAST) – Satellite imagery has confirmed that an aviation factory in the Russian city of Belgorod was hit by at least four Flamingo missiles during a strike in September 2025, contradicting official Russian statements at the time.
The strike was not the first use of the Flamingo missile, despite claims online. It took place several weeks after an earlier attack on hovercraft and barracks in Crimea. The Belgorod target was a major industrial facility producing specialised tools used to process titanium and aluminium composites. These materials are critical to the Russian aviation sector.
According to available assessments, around 70 per cent of the factory output supports aerospace manufacturing. Components produced there are linked to aircraft such as the MiG series and the Su 34, Su 35 and Su 57. This made the site an important military industrial target.
Shortly after the strike, Ukraine released an image showing the immediate aftermath. The photograph, recorded by a spotter drone, shows at least two distinct plumes of smoke rising from the facility, indicating separate impact points.
Further analysis using satellite imagery was later conducted by open source researchers known as Cyber Barnab and Exile Nova. Their comparison of images taken before and after the strike shows four clear impact marks on the factory buildings. All four missiles appear to have struck within a compact area of the main production complex.
Several of the damaged roof sections appear to have been cut away, suggesting repair work following severe internal damage. Three of the impact points show large openings consistent with explosions after penetrating the roof. A fourth impact left a smaller hole, which may indicate a missile that failed to detonate fully or struck a less critical area.
One section of the roof also shows what appears to be a crater inside the building, reinforcing the assessment that at least some of the missiles detonated after entering the structure. The confirmation of four impacts is significant because Russian authorities initially acknowledged the strike but claimed that only one missile reached its target, with the others intercepted.
The satellite evidence directly challenges that account, unless interception is being defined as occurring at the target itself. Analysts say all four strikes hit the main production area and caused substantial damage. It remains unclear whether the factory has since resumed operations.
Mapping data shows the facility is large, stretching roughly 200 metres from end to end, and located close to the Ukrainian border. While the short range raised questions about the choice of weapon, the Flamingo missile had entered service only a month earlier. Using it at closer range likely allowed Ukraine to carry out more accurate damage assessments using drones.
Not all Flamingo strikes have been equally successful. In earlier attacks, some missiles missed their targets or landed nearby, causing limited damage. Reports suggest the system has faced accuracy issues and may fly at a higher altitude than intended, making it easier to detect and intercept.
As a result, Ukraine appears to be refining the weapon and improving its performance before wider use. The strike on the Belgorod factory, however, stands out as one of the more effective operations and may have disrupted Russian military aircraft production for some time.
