A video released by the Russian military shows the power of Russia’s S-300PM2 “Favorit” anti-aircraft missile system as it claims to blast Ukrainian combat drones from the sky.
On Wednesday, Zenger News obtained the images from the Ministry of Defense (MoD) of the Russian Federation.
The Russian Ministry of Defense said: “Combat operation of the S-300PM2 Favorit anti-aircraft missile system during the special military operation.”
@mod_russia_fr/Zenger
“The S-300PM2 Favorit is designed to destroy modern and advanced aircraft, strategic cruise missiles, tactical and operational ballistic missiles and other means of air attack.
“During the fight, aerial targets identified as Bayraktar TB2 attack drones were detected.
“As a result of competent actions, the AFU strike drones were escorted out and destroyed.”
The Russian Defense Ministry did not specify where the strikes took place in Ukraine.
The S-300PM2 “Favorit” belongs to the S-300 family of long-range surface-to-air missile systems developed by the Soviet Union and entered service in 1978.
S-300 missile systems are operated by the armies of several countries, including Ukraine.
Ukrainian Bayraktar TB2 and TB2S combat drones wreaked havoc on Russian military equipment during the invasion of Ukraine.
The Oryx blog says the drones shot down six armored fighting vehicles; five towed artillery pieces; a multiple rocket launcher; two anti-aircraft guns; 13 surface-to-air missile systems; 10 helicopters; five warships; two logistics trains; 24 trucks, vehicles and jeeps; three command posts; a communication station; a vehicle storage building; and an ammunition depot.
@mod_russia_fr/Zenger
The Oryx Blog is run by “Stijn Mitzer and Joost Oliemans, two military analysts dedicated to investigating and sharing the ins and outs of conflict research, open source intelligence, and the occasional obscure snippet of the ‘military history’.
The blog only lists losses for which there is visual evidence, meaning the true list of results may be even longer.
Bayraktar TB2 and TB2S combat drones are made in Turkey and first flew seven years ago.
They are monitored and controlled by the crew in a ground control station.
The Russian Defense Ministry video may be a response to President Joe Biden’s recent announcement that he would supply Kyiv with a new weapons package.
The package will include four M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, which can launch multiple precision-guided missiles at targets 45 miles away.
The German government also recently promised to send the IRIS-T air defense system to Ukraine, allowing it to defend an entire city against Russian air attacks.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “These supplies do not contribute to the will of the Ukrainian leadership to resume peace negotiations.”
This story was provided to Newsweek by Zenger News.
