Ukrainian drone operators from the 413th Raid Unmanned Systems Battalion have successfully carried out a series of drone strikes that disabled critical Russian air defence systems. The precision strikes, captured on released footage, show first person view drones (FPV) targeting vehicles from the Buk surface to air missile system, dealing heavy damage and leaving the equipment inoperable.
In one key operation, a 9A310M1 self propelled launcher from the Russian Buk-M1 system was hit by an FPV drone, likely during refuelling. A nearby truck, believed to be a fuel tanker, appears in the video footage. The drone hit was followed by another strike on the launcher’s missile guide rails, hitting where the missile engines are housed. This left the system heavily damaged.
Another attack targeted the 9S36 radar unit belonging to the more modern Buk-M2 system. These drone strikes reportedly used shaped charge warheads, designed to penetrate and disable armoured components. The radar system is believed to be beyond repair and will require full replacement.
On 22 May, Ukraine’s 14th Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Regiment, in coordination with the Black Forest Brigade, also destroyed a Russian command post and struck multiple air defence systems including S-300, Tor, and Buk units. These operations are part of an ongoing Ukrainian campaign to degrade and dismantle Russia’s layered air defences in the occupied Donetsk region.
Throughout April, Ukrainian drone operators successfully neutralised several Russian launchers, including an S-300V system capable of ballistic missile interception, along with Tor-M2 and Buk-M3 systems. These strikes often took place while the systems were operating or on the move.
Ukrainian forces also eliminated a mobile command and staff vehicle used by Russian anti-aircraft divisions. Several of these operations involved U.S. made Switchblade 600 loitering munitions, which were guided by Ukrainian Shark reconnaissance drones.
