Strike Drone Destroys Russian Buk System in Zaporizhzhia Region

The Ukrainian Defense Forces destroyed a Russian Buk surface-to-air missile system with a strike drone in the Zaporizhzhia region.

The Operational Command South published a video of the strike.

At the time of the strike, the surface-to-air missile system was likely not in a combat position, which made it possible to successfully detect and destroy it.

The destroyed air defense system was a Buk-M1 variant, which the Russians actively use in frontline areas for air defense.

At the time of the strike, the launch system was equipped with one missile, which likely indicates its recent use. After the precise hit, the ammunition detonated, and a fire broke out, completely destroying the launcher.

The destruction of the system occurred near the settlement of Verkhnii Tokmak in the Zaporizhzhia region.

Recently, the number of Buk air defense systems lost has increased significantly. The Defense Forces have been successfully destroying both traditional systems in the M1 and M2 variants, as well as the newest M3 version, which is capable of carrying 6 to 12 9M317ME missiles.

Nevertheless, the Ukrainian Defense Forces have destroyed or damaged over 40 systems of this type, according to data from Oryx. Based on photo analysis of damaged equipment, Oryx has recorded that Russia had lost 23 9A316 transporter-loader vehicles and 30 9A317/M self-propelled firing vehicles.

Militarnyi previously reported that the operators of the Unmanned Systems Forces, together with paratroopers, had identified and struck three enemy Buk air defense systems in the Kursk region over 12 hours.

In the Kursk region, the operators of the 413th Separate Unmanned Systems Battalion “RAID”, in cooperation with the 78th Air Assault Regiment’s 3rd “Dzhmil” Consolidated UAS Detachment, identified and struck three Russian Buk air defense systems of different modifications over 12 hours.

The FPV drone crews successfully disabled the Buk-M2 launcher disguised in a forest belt, hitting the driver’s compartment, and then struck a container with an anti-aircraft missile with a second drone, causing an explosion and complete destruction of the vehicle.

Additionally, the operators of the 413th Battalion hit two Buk-M3 launchers, damaging their radars. Although the vehicles were not destroyed, the damaged radars will keep them out of action for an extended period until they are repaired.