UKRAINE may have hit Putin’s “Flying Kremlin” doomsday plane as it used long-range missiles to blitz a major military city in Russia.
The deadly strikes hit Taganrog, in Rostov region, resulting in 10 deafening explosions and bright flashes seen from afar.
Initial reports said there were two possible targets in the bold attack.
One is the Beriev Aircraft Company – which maintains some of Vladimir Putin’s most sensitive planes.
This includes the dictator’s Flying Kremlin Doomsday Ilyushin Il-80 Maxdome plane which would be put to work in nuclear war.
Russia’s A-50 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) surveillance aircraft are equipped with this plant’s technology. Two of these planes have been lost in battle, each costing £260 million.
Another possible target is the Krasny Hydropress facility, a crucial manufacturer of missile components and a division of Russia’s Tactical Missile Weapons Corporation.
A large number of fire trucks were reported heading to the plant and at least 10 explosions were heard by locals.
Although the extent of the destruction remains uncertain, 14 vehicles parked at the site – also referred to as the Beriev Aviation Scientific and Technical Complex – were intentionally set on fire.
Some Russian sources said Ukraine had used its new domestically made Palyanitsa drone missiles to attack Taganrog, but this was unconfirmed.
Other reports said US-supplied ATACMS missiles were used.
Taganrog mayor Svetlana Kambulova said: “The damaged area has been cordoned off by police officers.
“A survey of the territory within a radius of 1 kilometre will be conducted.”
Acting governor of the Rostov region Yuriy Slyusar admitted an industrial enterprise was damaged but gave no details.
He said: “According to preliminary data, no one was hurt.
“The extent of the damage is being clarified.”
In the attack, reports said 27 residential blocks had been plunged into cold after a hot water and heating supply plant had been hit.
The aircraft plant is seen as crucial to Putin’s war effort, overhauling aircraft used by the airforce and navy as well as special purpose planes like the Il-80 Maxdome and A-50 Airborne Early Warning and Control planes.
Separately, a major oil production facility caught fire in Bryansk border region in another Ukrainian attack.
The Druzhba oil pipeline loading point in the village of Sven near Bryansk was on fire.
A giant explosion and fireball was seen in videos.
Ten aircraft-type strike drones were reported to have been involved in attacks on Bryansk region.
The Druzhba oil pipeline is crucial to supplies of oil from Russia to Europe, and is still partially operational despite Western sanctions over the war.
Some reports suggested the fire broke out after an attack on a production facility nearby.
