Russia Says It Shot Down Target In Sky Using Air Defence System

These images purport to show a Russian air defence system destroying a Ukrainian aerial target.

The footage begins by showing the air defence system manoeuvring into position in a field.

They can then be seen stopping in a line of trees by the field before deploying their weapons, three missiles that can be seen pointing towards the sky.

The images then show the inside of the air defence system before one of the missiles fired and apparently hits an aerial target as the footage ends.

The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Friday, 17th February, along with a statement claiming: “In the course of the special military operation, the crews of the Buk-M2 anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM) continue to protect the units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation from enemy air attacks.

“This is a highly mobile complex designed to destroy strategic and tactical aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, guided bombs and other aerodynamic aircraft, in the entire range of their possible use, as well as to combat tactical ballistic, aviation missiles and other elements of high-precision weapons in flight.

“The complex provides protection of covered objects from air attack means, including in conditions of intense enemy electronic and fire countermeasures.

“A ‘Buk-M2’ SAM launcher goes to the firing position. The speed and manoeuvrability of a combat vehicle are like a good SUV. The ‘Buk’ stops and immediately goes into combat readiness.

“When the Buk is on alert, the sky remains clear.

Russian air defense systems “Buk-M2” destroys air target in Ukraine in undated footage. The footage was released by the Russian MoD on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023. (Ministry of Defense of Russia/Newsflash)

“The air defence system brings the missiles to the starting position, the radar scans the sector. When the rockets are ready, rotation begins in search of a sector of fire.

“In the zone of the special military operation, the complexes cover troops, command posts, and headquarters from attacks by an enemy who is trying to strike from the air, as well as settlements where civilians are located.

“An order comes from the command post to destroy an air target – an enemy unmanned aerial vehicle.

“As a rule, one missile is spent on hitting one target. The exception is especially large and high-speed objects, such as Tochka-U. In addition to them, at the beginning of the special military operation, this complex destroyed a large number of Bayraktar TB2 reconnaissance and strike UAVs, it also effectively destroys Tochka-U, HIMARS MLRS missiles and other multiple rocket launchers.

“‘Beeches’ are also distinguished by high cross-country ability, they are on caterpillar tracks. They develop speeds up to 60 kph, wherever they are.

“Deployment to a new position will not take more than five minutes, and the Buk-M2 complex will again begin to perform combat missions, providing a reliable shield not only for Russian troops, but also for civilians.”

We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage.

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 359th day of the full-scale war.

Russian air defense systems “Buk-M2” destroys air target in Ukraine in undated footage. The footage was released by the Russian MoD on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023. (Ministry of Defense of Russia/Newsflash)

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 17th February 2023, Russia had lost about 141,260 personnel, 3,298 tanks, 6,520 armoured combat vehicles, 2,322 artillery units, 467 multiple launch rocket systems, 241 air defence systems, 298 warplanes, 287 helicopters, 2,013 drones, 871 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 5,187 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 221 units of special equipment.

Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.

Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has ruled out giving up any of Ukraine’s territory in any potential peace deal with Russia.

Zelensky reportedly said that giving up land would signify that Russia could “keep coming back”.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Russia’s notorious Wagner mercenary organisation, has claimed that Bakhmut will fall within a couple of months.

Russia reportedly fired rockets and artillery at residential districts in Bakhmut on Thursday, killing three men and two women. Nine other people were wounded.

This is according to Ukraine’s Prosecutor General, who said that “criminal proceedings have been initiated”.

Russia launched 41 missiles at Ukraine on Thursday night, according to Ukrainian officials. The Ukrainian Air Force said that it had shot down at least 16 missiles.

Russian air defense systems “Buk-M2” destroys air target in Ukraine in undated footage. The footage was released by the Russian MoD on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023. (Ministry of Defense of Russia/Newsflash)

Russia’s Ministry of Defence has said that Ukraine has returned 101 prisoners of war to Russia in a prisoner exchange swap.

The head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, Andriy Yermak, said that 100 soldiers and one civilian had been returned to Ukraine in exchange.

He added that nearly all of the soldiers who were returned to Ukraine had defended the southern city of Mariupol before it fell to Russia.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to President Zelensky, has said that Russia has “definitely changed tactics” and is using decoy missiles that do not have explosive warheads as well as balloons to confuse Ukraine’s air defences and offer too many targets to shoot down.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has said that Russia “continues to introduce large numbers of troops” onto the battlefields of Ukraine.

He said that the new troops were “ill-equipped and ill-trained”, resulting in Russia “incurring a lot of casualties and we expect that will continue”.

Sir Keir Starmer, the UK Labour Party leader, has travelled to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv to meet President Zelensky, telling him that the United Kingdom will continue to support Ukraine if there were a change of government in the UK next year.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has said that it is expelling four Austrian diplomats after Austria took an “unfriendly and unjustified step”.

Picture shows Russian air defense systems “Buk-M2” in Ukraine in undated footage. The footage was released by the Russian MoD on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023. (Ministry of Defense of Russia/Newsflash)

The move comes after Vienna said earlier this month that it was expelling four Russian diplomats who “engaged in acts incompatible with their diplomatic status”.

The Austrian capital became a spy hotbed during the Cold War and is still reportedly considered to be a hotspot for international espionage.

The General Assembly of the United Nations is set to vote next week on a draft resolution outlining “the need to reach, as soon as possible, a comprehensive, just and lasting peace” in Ukraine.