Ukrainian Surface-To-Air Missile System Destroys Incoming Russian Target

The footage was obtained from the Office of Strategic Communications of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Monday, September 5.

<p>Ukrainian BUK M-1 fires a missile at the military object in the sky in Ukraine in undated footage. The Buk is a family of self-propelled, medium-range surface-to-air missile systems developed by the Soviet Union and its successor state, the Russian Federation. (@AFUStratCom/Zenger)</p>

This footage reportedly shows a Ukrainian surface-to-air missile system destroying an incoming Russian target.

The images show the missile system deploying one of its missiles before it fires it high into the sky. The missile can then be seen exploding on impact.

It is still currently unclear what the military target was but the Ukrainian military confirmed that it had been successfully intercepted.

The footage was obtained from the Office of Strategic Communications (StratCom) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Monday, September 5, along with a statement saying that the images show how a “Ukrainian ‘BUK M-1’ detected and destroyed another target.”

Zenger News contacted the StratCom of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for further comment, as well as the Russian Ministry of Defense, but had not received a reply at the time of writing.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Monday marks the 194th day of the war.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between February 24 and September 5, Russia had lost about 49,800 personnel, 2,068 tanks, 4,459 armored combat vehicles, 1,157 artillery units, 294 multiple launch rocket systems, 156 air defense systems, 236 warplanes, 206 helicopters, 867 drones, 205 cruise missiles, 15 warships, 3,286 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 107 units of special equipment.

Picture shows Ukrainian “BUK M-1 on a field in Ukraine in undated footage. The Buk is a family of self-propelled, medium-range surface-to-air missile systems developed by the Soviet Union and its successor state, the Russian Federation. (@AFUStratCom/Zenger)

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

Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, said on Sunday, September 4, that Ukraine had made progress in its counteroffensive against Russian forces, retaking two settlements in the south of the country and a third one in eastern Ukraine.

President Zelensky said: “The Ukrainian flags are returning to the places where they should be by right.”

Russian authorities said that the situation around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is Europe’s largest, was calm on Sunday, September 4.

This comes after UN inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Saturday, September 3, that the Russian-occupied plant, in southern Ukraine, had lost external power again.

The IAEA said in a statement that the last remaining primary external power line had been cut off, although a reserve line is continuing to supply electricity to the grid.

President Zelensky has warned Europe to expect a difficult winter after Russia shut down a main pipeline that supplies Russian gas to the continent. He said: “Russia is preparing a decisive energy blow on all Europeans for this winter.”

The missile from the Ukrainian “BUK M-1 hits the target the sky in Ukraine in undated footage. The Buk is a family of self-propelled, medium-range surface-to-air missile systems developed by the Soviet Union and its successor state, the Russian Federation. (@AFUStratCom/Zenger)

Russian energy company Gazprom had said on Friday evening that it was shutting down the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline to Germany indefinitely, after first halting the flow of gas for three days. Gazprom has blamed the move on “malfunctions”.

The move also came hours after G7 countries agreed to impose a price cap on Russian oil.

Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has thanked Germany for its solidarity in the face of the Russian invasion. But he added that Ukraine needs more weapons, including “modern combat tanks”.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Sunday, September 4, that the German government had been planning for a complete halt in gas deliveries from Russia in December. He has promised measures to lower prices, with Germany announcing a $64-billion package to tackle rising costs.