Satellite images show damage at a space center supporting Russia's Starlink rival after a Ukrainian missile strike

Over the weekend, Ukrainian forces targeted the Progress Rocket Space Center in Samara, Russia. Satellite images, obtained by Business Insider, reveal damage to the facility's roof and exterior. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed the military struck the location with FP-5 Flamingo cruise missiles, describing the attack as "a good achievement."

Video footage from social media showed a large fire at the site, followed by thick black smoke. The extent of the interior damage remains unclear. The Progress Rocket Space Center, a joint-stock company under the Russian state corporation Roscosmos, manufactures the Soyuz family of rockets used for launching spacecraft in low Earth orbit.

These rockets, including the Soyuz-2.1b, are crucial for deploying the Rassvet satellite internet constellation, a Russian alternative to SpaceX's Starlink. The Rassvet system aims to provide broadband communication in the hundreds of miles high, enabling drone operations. Ukrainian forces have been using Starlink in Ukraine, but it was disabled by Kyiv earlier this year.

Russia has since attempted to replicate the service, with several Rassvet satellites already deployed and plans for a constellation of hundreds. Starlink played a significant role in Ukraine's battlefield communications and electronic warfare during the war. The Ukrainian attack on the space center highlights the growing importance of space in the conflict.

Fire Point, the company behind the Flamingo cruise missile, stated that the facility is the sole production site for Soyuz-2 rockets, with no immediate backup. This repair process could span several months. Ukrainian military officials also mentioned that the center contributes to earth observation spacecraft, which are used for reconnaissance in enemy operations. The full impact of the damage at the space center is still being assessed.