(POKROVSK, DONETSK OBLAST) – Ukrainian forces have carried out two successful strikes against Russian military equipment, destroying a BM-21 Grad multiple launch rocket system and a suspected surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, according to footage released on 16th September 2026.
The first strike targeted a BM-21 Grad as it was launching rockets. The launch produced a large plume of smoke, making the system easy to detect. The drone arrived after the Grad had ceased firing, meaning its tubes were likely empty and the resulting explosion was less severe than is typical for a fully loaded system. The strike hit the launcher’s lift mechanism, a vulnerable component that will prevent the system from elevating its rockets again. No spotter drone was present during the attack.
The second strike, captured in a shorter video, targeted a Russian MT-LB armoured vehicle. The footage shows a massive explosion, with the blast appearing to originate from within a camouflage tent positioned behind the MT-LB. This suggests the tent concealed a more valuable target, likely a rocket launcher or a SAM system, with the MT-LB being used to transport equipment to it. A standard MT-LB would not produce such a large detonation on its own. The video cuts out before the full extent of the damage can be seen.
Geolocation of the Grad strike was provided by an open-source intelligence analyst, confirming the system was firing westward towards Pokrovsk at the time of the attack. The BM-21 Grad, while highly destructive, has a relatively short range, making it vulnerable to drone attack when positioned near the front line.
According to the Oryx open-source tracking database, 371 Grad systems have been destroyed so far, a figure considered a low estimate, along with 45 of the Grad-1 variant. Russia is estimated to have had around 650 Grads in service at the start of the full-scale invasion, with additional systems in storage.
Footage of the incident was released by the Suchomimus YouTube channel. The engagement occurred near Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine.
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