A newly released video captures the moment a Ukrainian HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) obliterates a prized Russian Buk missile launcher in a dramatic strike.
In apparent drone footage shared on Ukraine’s Defense of Ukraine‘s official X, formerly Twitter, page, the video shows a series of targeted explosions that appear to destroy one of Russia’s premier surface-to-air defense systems.
The video, titled Operational Command South, depicts HIMARS rockets launched in rapid succession hitting the target with precision. The attack strikes the Buk, which explodes in a shower of bright sparks and sets the area ablaze with vast plumes of smoke visible.
Both Russia and Ukraine have yet to issue formal statements on the video, but a caption alongside the video on the official Ukraine Defense page on X said:
“Destruction of a Russian BUK-M2 air defense system is, of course, good. However, destruction of a Russian BUK with a spectacular fireworks finale is truly amazing.”
HIMARS launches a rocket on the Bakhmut direction on May 18, 2023 in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine. Ukraine received the HIMARS as part of international military assistance programs to help defend itself against the ongoing Russian invasion.
Serhii Mykhalchuk/Global Images Ukraine/Getty Images
According to another post on X by a different account, the destroyed Buk M2 air defense system was in the Zaporizhzhia region. Ukrainian media outlet MILITARNYI reported that the destroyed Russian Buk-M3 air defense system and 9S36 radar had been located in the temporarily occupied territory of the Luhansk region.
Newsweek could not independently verify when and where the footage was filmed and has reached out to the Russian Defense Ministry for comment on Friday via email.
Ukraine received the HIMARS as part of international military assistance programs to help defend itself against the ongoing Russian invasion.
The use of HIMARS —a precision rocket system supplied by the United States to Ukraine—demonstrates the growing reliance on advanced Western weaponry in Kyiv’s efforts to push back Russian forces and reclaim territory.
The Buk system, famously involved in shooting down aircraft and safeguarding Russian forces against aerial attacks, is one of Putin’s most prized assets and a high-value target for Ukraine. It plays a crucial role in Russia’s defense network, making this strike a significant setback for Moscow’s capabilities in the contested region.
This is not the first time Ukraine has successfully taken out a Russian Buk air defense system, as previously reported by Newsweek.
The Buk can be either tracked or wheeled and is designed to take down enemy aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles and other targets, according to the U.S. military.
The Buk has received numerous upgrades and has served as the backbone to Russia’s forces since they started using the system in 2008.
The Buk-M2 can strike aerial targets between 2 miles and 28 miles away, according to Russian state exporter Rosoboronexport.
Ukraine’s aerial attack follows recent reports indicating an uptick in Ukrainian counteroffensive operations. As the conflict continues, such strikes may increase in frequency, especially with enhanced intelligence and technological support from NATO and Western allies.
For Russia, the loss of advanced equipment like the Buk represents a costly setback amid ongoing logistical and battlefield challenges.
