(BRYANSK OBLAST, RUSSIA) – A photograph has confirmed the destruction of one of two Russian S-400 launchers that Ukraine reported destroying in Bryansk Oblast. The launchers had been used in a ground to ground role to launch missiles at Kyiv rather than being deployed in their intended ground to air role. Russia used the systems as makeshift offensive missiles to attack Ukrainian cities.
The photograph shows an S-400 launcher by the side of a road with its cabin destroyed and burning. The location ties in with Ukraine’s claims that the system was being used in a ground to ground role rather than ground to air, as it was found on a long road rather than in the open spaces where S-400 batteries are typically deployed. It appeared to have been on its own when hit, though it could have been moving to a deployment point. Ukraine previously confirmed the use of S-300 and S-400 systems in a ground to ground role as makeshift missile launchers several years ago.
It remains unclear how Ukraine managed to destroy the launcher, whether by chance, by a Ukrainian drone in the air at the time spotting it moving along the road, or by detecting the launch and quickly sending drones to ambush it. The end result remains the same: one S-400 launcher confirmed destroyed. No photograph of the second launcher has yet emerged.
The launcher was geolocated by Blind on Twitter, placing it along a road near the settlement of Pochep, approximately 100 kilometres from the border. This makes it a deep range strike. The S-400 has a range of around 400 kilometres in a ground to air role and at least 360 kilometres when used to hit Kyiv. Taking out S-400 launchers used to attack Ukrainian cities is a top priority for Ukraine.
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