Ukrainian military destroys Russian Iskander missile launcher

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced that a missile strike successfully destroyed one Russian Iskander-M launcher and caused severe damage to two additional units. The targeted brigade was the first in the Russian military to fully adopt the Iskander system. It had previously taken part in the missile attack on the Drama Theatre in Chernihiv in August 2023.

The strike reportedly targeted the Iskander-M missile launcher platform, which was located in a temporarily occupied area of eastern Ukraine. Imagery shows damage consistent with a direct hit on the system.

Ukrainian military intelligence reports that the strike took place near the town of Klintsy in Russia’s Bryansk Oblast, roughly 50 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Based on the systems’ location and range, it is believed they were likely being readied to launch attacks on northern Ukraine, potentially targeting Kyiv, reports Defense Express.

The Iskander-M system is equipped to launch high-precision missiles with a range of up to 500 kilometres and is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads. Russia has used these systems in various operations since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

"The lack of clarity fuels speculation, particularly as this level of operational precision suggests either an advanced Ukrainian capability or a new Western-supplied system," adds Defense Express.

The report states that the strike was preceded by reconnaissance activity and coordinated targeting. It did not disclose the exact timeline of the operation but presented satellite imagery analysis suggesting that the Iskander launcher was no longer operational following the hit.

No official comment has been released by the Russian Ministry of Defence regarding the reported destruction of the missile system.