Ukraine’s National Guard drone unit successfully destroyed a Russian BUK-M1 surface-to-air missile system worth $10 million.
Completely Destroyed
This was announced by the Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko Saturday.
The operation took place in one of the "hottest zones" of the front line, though the exact location was not disclosed.
"Guardsmen spotted an enemy air defense system during reconnaissance operations. The enemy equipment was completely destroyed with a precise strike. The cost of such a system reaches $10 million," Klymenko shared on Telegram, according to Hotnews.
1,650 Casualties in a Day
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported on Saturday that Russian forces suffered 1,650 casualties in a single day.
Since the invasion began on February 24, 2022, Ukraine estimates that 719,240 Russian soldiers have been killed or injured.
In addition to personnel losses, Ukraine claims Russia has lost substantial military hardware:
9,338 tanks
18,994 armored fighting vehicles
20,520 artillery systems
1,252 multiple rocket launchers
999 air defense systems
369 aircraft
The Soviet-era BUK-M1 missile system, used by both Ukraine and Russia in the ongoing war, is designed for medium-range air defense and is capable of targeting aircraft, cruise missiles, and drones.
Introduced in 1980, the BUK-M1 has been updated over the years. Before the invasion of Ukraine, Russia reportedly possessed at least 440 of these systems, though their current numbers are unclear.
