Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff reports on damage to Iskander systems: one destroyed, two probably damaged (video)

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced the defeat of Russian Iskander tactical missile systems on its official Facebook page.

What happened

According to the General Staff, today, units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in cooperation with the Security Service of Ukraine and other components of the Defence Forces, launched a missile strike on the area of concentration of a unit of the Russian Federation's missile forces.

A unit of the 26th Missile Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces, located near the town of Kintsi, Bryansk Oblast, approximately 50 kilometres from the border with Ukraine, came under fire. According to Ukrainian intelligence, it was from this position that the enemy planned to strike at one of the Ukrainian cities, probably Kyiv, which is approximately 270 kilometres away.

As a result of effective reconnaissance and coordinated combat work of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the Security Service of Ukraine, the target was hit. According to a preliminary assessment, one Russian tactical missile launcher detonated, and two more are likely to have sustained significant damage. The final results of the strike are being clarified.

Why it matters.

The damage was caused at a long distance by Ukrainian missile weapons on the enemy's territory. It was during the deployment of the OTRK to strike Kyiv. This demonstrates the ability of the Ukrainian Defence Forces to act proactively and reduce the missile threat to civilians. The defeat of the Iskander launchers directly affects the combat effectiveness of Russian forces and demonstrates the effectiveness of Ukrainian intelligence and coordination between units.

Reference: 26th Missile Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces

The 26th Neman Missile Brigade (military unit 54006) is part of the 6th Combined Arms Army of the Western Military District of Russia and is stationed in Luga, Leningrad Oblast. Formed in 1988 as the 463rd Missile Brigade, it was later renamed the 26th Missile Brigade and relocated to Luga in 1993. In 2011, it became the first in the Russian Federation to be fully rearmed with the Iskander-M missile system. It is armed with 12 units of the Iskander-M system.

The brigade is involved in the war against Ukraine. In particular, according to the Ukrainian side, on 19 August 2023, its units fired a missile at Chernihiv.

Background on the Iskander

The Iskander operational and tactical missile system (Iskander-M, NATO classification - SS-26 Stone) is a tactical-level weapon of the Russian Armed Forces. It is designed to engage stationary and mobile targets at a range of up to 500 km (according to some estimates, up to 700 km), using both conventional and nuclear munitions.

The system is capable of changing its flight path, has a short deployment and use time, and is equipped with ballistic or cruise missiles. It has been in service with the Russian army since 2006.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine