The video, released by Ukraine's General Staff on 18/12/2024, shows two launchers, identified as belonging to Russia's S-400 air defense system, moving on a road, seemingly relocating.
A Ukrainian suicide drone struck the lead vehicle, causing a large explosion as missile fuel ignited. Subsequent footage shows the first launcher engulfed in flames, while the second vehicle emitted smoke and was hit by another Ukrainian UAV.
A Ukrainian drone strikes a "Russian S-400 launcher" in Belgorod province on 14/12/2024. Video: General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces
Ukraine's General Staff reported the destruction of both launcher vehicles, stating they belonged to the Russian army's 568th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment. The attack occurred in the Rzhevka area of Belgorod province on 14/12/2024, executed by Ukraine's 15th Independent Artillery Reconnaissance Brigade.
An observer, reportedly connected to Russian intelligence, stated that Ukraine deployed a total of 6 suicide drones, destroying one transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) vehicle, along with 4 missiles, and damaging the other. No personnel casualties were reported in the incident.
WarTranslated, an X account covering the conflict in Ukraine, noted that a video of the Russian S-400 unit had been posted online days before the strike. The account suggested, "it is possible that Ukrainian forces relied on the images to locate the enemy and launch the attack".
The Russian Ministry of Defense has not yet commented on these reports.
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The location of Rzhevka. Graphic: Wikimedia
The S-400 is a long-range air defense system designed to intercept aircraft and cruise missiles up to 400 km away, and ballistic missiles within a 60 km range at altitudes of 30 km. However, the system is not optimized for intercepting small drones, nor is it effective against attacks while in transit.
In november, Ukrainian forces claimed to have destroyed 4 launchers and two radars of an S-400 system during a missile and drone attack on the port city of Novorossiysk in southern Russia. Subsequent satellite images showed damage at the site where the 4 launchers were located, though the extent of specific damage remained unclear.
By Pham Giang (Sources: Militarnyi, Defence Blog)
