The state-of-the-art Buk-M3 SAM did not prevent a drone from attacking an oil refinery in russia 300km from the front line

The 90th anti-aircraft missile brigade of the Russian Armed Forces failed to protect an oil refinery on the Black Sea shore. The enterprise was attacked by an unknown drone on the night of May 31.

Here's What We Know

Spring 2023 ended with a drone visit to the Afipsk refinery. The enterprise is located in the Krasnodar region on the shores of the Black Sea. The distance to the front line is more than 300km.

Local media report that after the explosion a fire broke out at the plant. The fire covered an area of about 100 square metres. Residents say they heard a sound similar to a drone flying before the explosion.

The Russian federation upgraded the refinery in 2019, investing about $1.7 billion, with a design capacity of 6.25 million tonnes of oil per year. The most modern versions of the Buk-M3 surface-to-air missile system are to protect the facility. They came into service of the previously mentioned 90th anti-aircraft missile brigade in 2020.

The Buk-M3 is based on the Buk-M2 and was adopted into service in 2016. The launcher carries 12 9M317M missiles, which can intercept air threats at ranges of up to 70km and altitudes of up to 35km. The surface-to-air missile system can destroy targets that fly at speeds of up to 3km/s.

Source: Defence Express