Defense Forces Drone Strikes Russian Buk System

A Ukrainian Defense Forces drone hit a transport loader vehicle of the Russian Buk-M2 system, according to a photo published by the Telegram channel Dosye Shpiona.

The targeted vehicle was a 9A316, used in the Buk-M2 surface-to-air missile system. The 9A316 can reload the primary 9A317 launcher or be used to launch missiles independently.

The drone strike took place on April 4, 2025, near the village of Sokolohirsk in the Luhansk region.

The channel reported that the strike was carried out by an unidentified type of drone, which hit the vehicle and caused a fire.

Two Russian servicemembers sustained moderate injuries.

Shrapnel damage to the missile’s engine section can be spotted in the published photos, but the warhead did not detonate.

As of today, the Buk-M2 system is reportedly used less frequently on the front lines, as Russian forces tend to rely on more mobile and compact systems, such as the Strela-10 and Tor.

Despite this, according to the open-source intelligence group Oryx, Ukrainian forces have destroyed or damaged 27 Buk-M2 units. These include 11 9A316 launcher-loaders and 16 9A317 self-propelled launchers.

Militarnyi also reported that Ukrainian forces destroyed a 9A310 self-propelled launcher from the older Buk-M1 system using precision-guided munitions.

Operators from the 15th Black Forest Artillery Reconnaissance Brigade spotted the system in transit and directed a strike.

The detonation of the missile propellant following the impact likely destroyed the launcher.