Over the weekend, Russia destroyed a series of missiles launched from Ukrainian territory by the Czech-made Vampire system.
On March 18, the Russian Defense Ministry said that its military had thwarted a Ukrainian attack on Belgorod using the RM-70 Vampire multiple launch rocket system. Russian air defense forces destroyed 10 missiles in the border area between the two countries. Previously, on March 17, Russia shot down nine missiles launched from the Vampire system in the Belgorod region, bordering northeastern Ukraine.
Ukrainian soldiers operate an RM-70 Vampire multiple launch rocket system in Donetsk, Ukraine. Photo: Getty Images
In a statement on March 17, Russia said its forces shot down 23 missiles launched from Vampires in the past day and destroyed a Vampire MLRS combat vehicle near the Belgorod border with Ukraine.
Ukrainian forces have used the Vampire multiple launch rocket system since the early days of the conflict with Russia. The Vampire is a standard artillery system used frequently in cross-border attacks, said Marina Miron, a research fellow at the Department of War Studies at King's College London.
“This system is used for concentrated missile launches, which can launch up to 40 missiles in less than a minute. They are often used to target military equipment,” Ms. Miron said.
Vampire is built on the chassis of an 8x8 truck, allowing the system to quickly leave its position after firing before the enemy can determine its location and respond with fire.
Russia has accused Ukraine of repeatedly using artillery in attacks on the Belgorod region. According to Miron, Ukraine may have used the Vampire system more in recent weeks because of the scarcity of 155mm artillery shells. Meanwhile, the Vampire system uses 122mm artillery shells. “Maybe Ukraine has more 122mm artillery shells. That is why they use the Vampire system more often.”
On March 17, the Russian military and the Border Service of the Federal Security Service (FSB) prevented a Ukrainian reconnaissance group from entering the village of Kozinka, located in Russia's Belgorod region, near the border with Ukraine.
Belgorod Region Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said that on March 16, the Ukrainian army shelled the Russian city of Belgorod with Czech-made RM-70 Vampire systems.
The Ukrainian military has stepped up artillery and drone attacks on Russian territory in the past week. They have also made several major incursions into Russia’s Belgorod and Kursk regions.
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