Ukraine Video Shows Russia's BUK Missile System Annihilated in Blast

Ukraine has destroyed a Russian Buk air defense system, Kyiv's military said on Thursday, publishing a video which appears to show its forces annihilating the equipment in a fiery blast.

The Buk-M1 was taken out as it was "preparing to launch missiles," the press service of Ukrainian Special Operations Forces (SOF) said on its Telegram channel. It was discovered by operators of Ukraine's 3rd Separate Regiment of the SOF during reconnaissance operations "in one of the most active areas."

The SOF published aerial drone footage which purports to show the moment the air defense system was struck in an empty field, causing a fiery explosion and plumes of smoke to rise into the air upon impact.

Newsweek couldn't independently verify when or where the footage was filmed and has contacted Russia's defense ministry for comment by email.

"Our operators transmitted the coordinates of the enemy target to the rocket and artillery unit of the Defense Forces. The Buk-M1 did not have time to fire a single rocket, as it was promptly destroyed," it said.

"The Buk-M1 didn't have time to launch a single missile—it was promptly destroyed," the statement added.

The video was also shared on X, formerly Twitter, by Ukraine's defense ministry, which wrote: "The Russian Buk-M1 air defense system was preparing to launch missiles, but something went wrong. Ukrainian artillery left no chances for it."

The Buk air defense system is designed to be deployed against enemy aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, tactical ballistic and aircraft missiles, and guided bombs in heavy enemy counterfire and radio jamming conditions, according to specialist website Army Technology.

The upgraded version of the system—the Buk-M2—has been used by Russia's military since 2008, and is capable of simultaneously engaging up to 24 targets. It can engage aerial targets from a distance of between 3 kilometers, or just under 2 miles, and 45 kilometers (28 miles), Newsweek previously reported.

Kyiv's military has claimed to have destroyed a number of Russian Buk air defense system throughout the war, which began with Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

In January, the SOF released a video that it said showed its forces destroying three of the systems in a single week.

"In one week, three enemy 'Buk' air defense systems were hit" near Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, the press service of the SOF said on its Telegram channel, sharing a one-minute clip of the efforts.

The press service said Moscow lost three Buk air defense systems "with two 9C36 detection and targeting stations" on the Donetsk front lines, "thanks to the professional actions of SOF operators."

"Operators from the SOF's 3rd Separate Special Forces regiment detected and adjusted the fire of Defense Forces' missile and artillery units on Russian targets," it said. "As a result of fire damage, one missile system was completely destroyed, two more were disabled and cannot be restored."

The press service added: "The hunt for enemy targets continues!"

Do you have a tip on a world news story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about the Russia-Ukraine war? Let us know via worldnews@newsweek.com.