Ukraine struck Russia's Plesetsk Cosmodrome, the country's main orbital launch facility, prompting Moscow to stop publishing its launch schedule. Russian space officials acknowledged "serious inbound attempts" to the cosmodrome but provided few details about the damage or casualties. The attack marks a significant escalation in Ukraine's ability to project force deep into Russian territory.
The incident raises questions about Russia's space infrastructure resilience and its ability to maintain regular orbital operations. Plesetsk has been the workhorse of Russia's space program for decades, handling both civilian and military payloads. This is the first time a major spaceport has been directly targeted in an active conflict, setting a precedent that will likely influence how nations protect critical space infrastructure going forward.
Russia's decision to cloak its launch schedule suggests concerns about exposing future launch windows to potential follow-up strikes.