Ukrainian soldiers from the 8th Corps of the Air Assault Forces destroyed two Russian Buk surface-to-air missile systems. The operation took place in a single day on the Kharkiv front, which borders Russia.
It was a Buk-series air defense system that Russian forces used to shoot down the international Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in 2014 over the occupied part of Donbas. All 298 people on board were killed. The system belonged to the 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces, stationed in Kursk, as per Glavkom.
Russians attempted to conceal the equipment
The movement of the Russian air defense systems was detected by Ukraine's UAV Systems Center of the "Kursk" Group of Forces. After the coordinates were confirmed, precision fire strikes were carried out, resulting in the complete destruction of both Buk systems.
The Russians attempted to conceal the equipment in wooded terrain, but this did not save it from Ukrainian reconnaissance and targeting.
The systems destroyed were the modern Buk-M2 and Buk-M3, both of which are key elements of Russia's military air defense architecture.
Buk-M3 is the most advanced version: capabilities and characteristics
The Buk-M3 is the most modern modification of the medium-range Buk air defense system family.
Key characteristics of the Buk-M3:
- engagement range: up to 70–75 km;
- engagement altitude: up to 35 km;
- ability to destroy aircraft, helicopters, cruise and ballistic missiles, as well as UAVs;
- use of missiles with an active radar seeker
Minus $70 million in minutes: Russia's financial losses
Buk systems are among the core components of Russian air defense, but Russian forces also actively use them to strike ground targets, which further highlights their threat not only to military assets but also to civilian infrastructure.
Estimated cost of the destroyed systems:
- Buk-M2 — approximately $25 million;
- Buk-M3 — up to $45 million.
In total, Russia lost air defense assets worth around $70 million, not including the cost of crew training and logistics.
The destruction of two Buk systems at once weakens Russia’s air defense coverage on the axis and reduces Russia’s ability to protect key military assets.
It was a Buk-series air defense system that Russian forces used to shoot down the international Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in 2014 over the occupied part of Donbas. All 298 people on board were killed. The system belonged to the 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces, stationed in Kursk, as per Glavkom.
