On the night of 13–14 March, Ukrainian Special Operations Forces’ Deep Strike units reported carrying out strikes on launchers of the “Iskander” operational-tactical missile system. The missile’s launch weight is 3,800 kilograms, with a warhead weighing on average 480 kilograms.
These systems can also carry nuclear warheads.
The “Iskander” system has been one of the tools of Russia’s missile terrorism against Ukraine’s civilian population. According to military sources, its launcher was destroyed near the village of Vyshneve in temporarily occupied Crimea.
Ukrainian drones target system ready to strike civilians
The vehicle had been moved from its permanent deployment site to the launch area and camouflaged in a forest strip.
The launcher was armed and crewed. After the long-range drone strike by Ukrainian forces, secondary detonation of the ammunition was observed.
According to the OSINT-project KiberBoroshno, which analyzed messages from local channels, ballistic missile launches have been repeatedly recorded in this area.
"One of the most recent incidents occurred on 4 March, when a launch was detected from the Mazanka–Krasnovka area, approximately 7 km west of the strike site," it reports.
Additionally, local resistance sources reported that Ukrainian forces discovered a storage site for Iskander launchers in the settlement of Kurortne.
Deadly “Iskander” missiles are not untouchable
The equipment's deployment site was also targeted by drones. Several of them reached the objectives and struck enemy positions. Ukrainian troops emphasized that these strikes aim to destroy missile systems that Russian forces use to attack Ukrainian cities.
The Iskander missile is undeniably a highly dangerous weapon, capable of targeting both civilian and military infrastructure. Its wide range of warhead types allows it to engage many different targets.
It can be equipped with a cluster warhead, dispersing numerous large fragments that can strike many civilians.
Its range allows it to hit targets deep behind the front lines without risking the launchers or system components, and its design and flight characteristics make it difficult for air defense systems to detect and destroy.
