THIS is the dramatic moment Vladimir Putin’s £80million surface-to-air missile launcher is eviscerated by Ukraine in Russia’s latest battlefield embarrassment.
The multi-million pound Buk-M1 missile system is instantly blown to smithereens as it’s struck by a Ukrainian High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), fired by Ukraine’s 3rd Special Operations Regiment.
twitter/@IAPonomarenkoRussia’s Buk-M1 missile system appeared to be searching for its first target just moments before it was destroyed[/caption]
twitter/@IAPonomarenkoA Ukrainian HIMARS then sparked a huge fireball following the attack[/caption]
twitter/@IAPonomarenkoA huge plume of white smoke and falling debris quickly engulfed the sky[/caption]
The high-end military weapon appeared to have been aiming for its next target prior to the devastating attack.
Video uploaded to social media then showed the aftermath of the explosion as charred parts of armoury rained down on the floor below.
Plumes of thick white smoke then engulfed the sky before an orange fireball appears from beneath.
The Ukrainian Special Operations Forces (SSO) reported the destruction of the Russian Buk-M1 anti-aircraft missile complex via Telegram.
“The Buk-M1, which was preparing to launch missiles, was destroyed,” the caption to the released video read. according to the Kyiv Post.
Russia’s multi-million pound weapon was discovered by operators of Ukraine’s 3rd Separate Regiment of the SSO during reconnaissance missions “in one of the most active areas.”
SSO operators then relayed the target coordinates to the missile artillery unit of the Ukrainian Defence Forces, who took swift action on the missile launcher.
And according to special operations forces, the Russian missile launcher didn’t even have time to fire a single missile before it was destroyed.
With the military vehicle valued at approximately $100million (£79.9million), it comes as a major blow and huge embarrassment to Putin and his forces.
“The Buk-M1 didn’t have time to launch a single missile – it was promptly destroyed,” the statement said.
The Buk-M1 surface-to-air defence missile system is intended to defeat tactical and strategic aircraft, cruise missiles, helicopters and other aerodynamic targets.
A self-propelled, medium-range surface-to-air missile system developed by the Russian defence industry, it can also strike down ballistic missiles, antiradar missiles and other high precision weapons.
The systems battery requires five minutes to set up before it is ready for engagement, according to ArmyRecognition.com, and can be ready for transit again within five minutes.
The reaction time of the battery from target tracking to missile launch is around 22 seconds, it’s added.
Manned by a crew of three, the Buk-M1 fires missiles at a terryfing speed of 1,901mph.
It also boasts an impressive range of 32-35km.
The destruction of the Buk-M1 missile system is just the latest in a long line of battlefield blows for Putin and his forces.
Earlier this month, an elite Ukrainian unit staged a daring three-day mission to capture a £1million Russian tank suspected of carrying secret technology.
The 12th Azov brigade risked their lives to sneak across the frontline and steal a T-72 because Kyiv feared it was able to repel its drones.
It came after a column of Russian tanks and 50 soldiers were wiped out by Ukraine in one Putin’s most humiliating battlefield blows yet.
Dramatic footage shared by soldiers of the Azov Brigade shows the military vehicles being blown to bits before they manage to capture one of Russia’s new tanks.
In March, chilling footage also showed one of Putin’s £1million T-72 tanks getting completely eviscerated by a Ukrainian suicide drone.
The dramatic moment captured the Russian tank making its way across the battlefield before it gets suddenly blown to smithereens.
Russia also continues to take heavy hits on its oil refineries after yet another was hit by Ukraine on Thursday.
Footage captured the dramatic moment the huge inferno also destroyed one of Putin’s trains during the sabotage attack close to Omsk Oil Refinery in southwest Russia.
X DefenceUOne of Putin’s £1m T-72 tanks was recently destroyed[/caption]
NewsflashVideo also emerged of soldiers of the Armed Forces dropping grenades on Russian tanks[/caption]
NewsflashThis particular tank explodes into a huge fireball after being hit by a bomb dropped from a drone[/caption]
Peter Jordan – Commissioned by The SunAnother destroyed Russian T-72 main battle tank[/caption]
SWNSA Russian tank burning in the streets of Ukraine[/caption]