Missile event in Belgorod, Skif-M Plant area, Russian Federation on Tue 23rd September 2025

A precision missile strike carried out by Ukraine targeted the Skif-M plant in Belgorod, a facility identified by defense analysts as critical to Russia’s military aircraft production.

According to open-source intelligence groups CyberBoroshno and Exilenova+, four domestically produced Flamingo cruise missiles were used in the September 23, 2025 operation. The site is known for supplying specialized tooling essential for manufacturing Su-34, Su-35, Su-57, and MiG aircraft.

Following the strike, Russian officials claimed that only one missile had hit its target. However, satellite imagery reviewed by analysts contradicts that assertion. Images published by Copernicus and shared by Exilenova+ show evidence of four separate impact points on the roof of the Skif-M facility.

One missile reportedly penetrated the roof and side wall of the building before detonating outside, with visible fire damage captured in images released by Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.

According to CyberBoroshno, all four missiles reached the target area, with an estimated maximum deviation of less than 80 meters. The largest crater recorded was approximately 25 meters in diameter, suggesting a high level of destructive precision.

Skif-M is a Russian manufacturer of high-precision drills, milling tools, and inserts, 70% of which are specifically designed for processing aerospace-grade materials such as titanium, aluminum, and composites. These tools are essential for producing components for modern Russian fighter jets, including the Su-34 bomber and Su-35 and Su-57 fighters.

According to the UK-based Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), Skif-M is one of several vulnerable nodes in Russia’s aircraft production ecosystem. The plant’s primary client is the United Aircraft Corporation, Russia’s umbrella organization for military and civilian aircraft production.

While the parent company is headquartered in Belgorod, Skif-M also has a regional affiliate, Skif-M DV, located in Komsomolsk-on-Amur—within two blocks of the Komsomolsk Aircraft Plant (KnAAZ), which assembles Su-34, Su-35, and Su-57 platforms.

As of January 2026, Skif-M has only been sanctioned by Ukraine, not by the European Union or the United States. However, the factory’s role in enabling the Russian aerospace industry suggests that its disruption could have strategic consequences.

Damage to this facility may slow Russia’s production of advanced combat aircraft, which have been extensively used in the war against Ukraine. Satellite imagery dated January 5, 2026, suggests that repairs to the facility were ongoing more than three months after the strike, with parts of the roof still missing—indicating potential internal structural damage

Earlier, Ukrainian forces struck a large ammunition depot in occupied Debaltseve, Donetsk region, setting off fires and secondary explosions. The city, a key Russian logistics hub, has been under occupation since 2015.