Putin humiliated as Ukraine completely obliterates £115m defence system
Ukrainian sources called it "one of the most impressive ATACMS strikes recorded during the war".
Vladimir Putin's army has faced a significant blow after Ukraine downed a £115 million Russian munition.
Ukraine took out a £115 million Russian S-300 missile defence system near Mariupol in a prelude to deploying Western-supplied F-16 supersonic fighters in the coming weeks.
Aerial footage shows how six long-range ATACMS missiles with cluster warheads hit and disabled launchers and an associated radar.
Russia had announced that the incoming US-made missiles were downed, but the video reveals the direct hit, a significant blow to Vladimir Putin’s forces.
Ukraine has targeted air defences around the frontline ahead of the expected arrival of F-16s seen as boosting Ukraine’s defences against Russian aggression.
Military expert Oleksandr Musienko, head of Ukraine’s Centre for Military and Legal Research, told Channel 24: "It is extremely important for the defence forces to destroy enemy anti-aircraft missile systems.
“This gives more opportunities for the work of our aviation.”
Ukraine’s commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi confirmed the successful strike and Ukrainian sources called it “one of the most impressive ATACMS strikes recorded during the war”.
Separately, Russia highlighted the dramatic explosion of a Ukrainian kamikaze marine drone as it attacked naval port Sevastopol in Putin-occupied Crimea.
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Explosives on the sea drone ignited when it was hit by Russian defenders, shows footage from Russian pro-war Telegram channel tactical_13.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defence, 33 Ukrainian drones and 10 unmanned boats were incapacitated overnight.
Ahead of the F-16 arrival, there was a new hint from veteran Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, 74, that the Kremlin was ready for talks on the war.
“We are ready for negotiations, but given the sad experience of conversations and consultations with the West and Ukrainians, the agreement that I hope will be reached at some stage on European security, and in this context the Ukrainian crisis will be resolved, we will carefully look at the wording and lay down safeguards against repeated, unscrupulous, non-negotiable interpretations,” he said.
