The Russian Ministry of Defense stated on 2/2 that an Iskander-M ballistic missile crew carried out a strike targeting a Ukrainian HIMARS multiple rocket launcher system near Volodarovka village in Kharkov province, and an S-300 air defense system deployed near the Volnyansk settlement in Dnipropetrovsk province.
In the first video released by the Russian military, its reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) detected what it identified as a HIMARS combat vehicle and hai shelters for its crew.
An Iskander-M missile strikes a HIMARS vehicle and Ukrainian S-300 position in a video released on 2/2. Video: Russian Ministry of Defense
An Iskander-M ballistic missile descended into the area, landing approximately 20-30 m from the launcher vehicle and causing a large explosion. Subsequent footage showed a substantial fire, reportedly caused by the HIMARS combat vehicle being hit by fragments and catching fire. "The strike destroyed the launcher and killed 10 Ukrainian soldiers", the Russian Ministry of Defense reported.
In the second video, a Russian UAV tracked a Ukrainian S-300 battery, which included ba transporter-erector-launchers, a command post, and a fire control radar. An Iskander-M missile struck the center of the position, engulfing the entire target in a fireball and a large volume of fragments.
The explosion caused hai missiles to be ejected from their launchers and fly away, while the solid fuel of the remaining munitions burned for 30 minutes. "The entire S-300 complex, along with its operating crew, was obliterated", the Russian Ministry of Defense statement read.
The Ukrainian military has not commented on this information.
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Locations of Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkov provinces. *Graphic: RYV*
Ukrainian military expert Alexander Kovalenko stated on 1/2 that Ukraine endured a total of 91 Iskander-M ballistic missiles and modified S-300 missiles in january, a record high since the conflict began.
He estimated that Ukrainian air defense intercepted only 30% of these, warning that Moscow is increasing its use of ballistic missiles, which will become one of the biggest challenges Kyiv faces this year.
Western nations have provided Ukraine with many advanced air defense systems, among the most powerful being Patriot, SAMP/T, IRIS-T, and NASAMS. Ukrainian Patriot systems are equipped with the most modern US-made PAC-3 MSE missiles, which cost an average of USD 4 million each and can intercept ballistic missiles at a range of 60 km.
However, Ukraine's air defense complexes have repeatedly been overwhelmed and depleted of ammunition, with many batteries also being targeted and destroyed by Russia. Russia is also continuously upgrading its Iskander-M ballistic missiles and deploying "zombie missiles" from S-300 complexes, aiming to further complicate Ukraine's defense network.
By Nguyen Tien (According to RIA Novosti, TASS, AP)
