Russian suicide drones attack Ukrainian S-300 missile sites.

Russian forces deployed Lancet UAVs to attack Ukrainian S-300 long-range air defense systems, destroying at least two missile transporter-launcher clusters.

On May 23, the Telegram account Voenacher, which specializes in posting material about Russian forces fighting in Ukraine, shared a video from a drone showing the moment a Ukrainian S-300 missile site was attacked.

In the first video, two Ukrainian 5P85S/D ammunition/launcher vehicles, covered in camouflage netting, were spotted by a Russian reconnaissance UAV resting in a fortified position, not yet switched to combat mode.

The Russian Lancet suicide drone then crashed directly into a missile launcher in the S-300 complex and exploded. The attack did not detonate the missile in its storage tube, but caused significant damage to the launcher's control equipment compartment.

Russian suicide drones attack Ukrainian S-300 missile sites. — Ukrainian S-300 missile sites were attacked by Russia in a video released on May 23. Video: *Telegram/Voenacher*

The attack likely rendered both launchers inoperable, as the control compartment on the 5P85S is responsible for connecting to and controlling the operation of the adjacent 5P85D launcher.

The second video, filmed using thermal imaging sensors on a Russian UAV, does not show the type of weapon used to attack the Ukrainian S-300 position. At least three explosions were recorded, one of which appeared to activate the solid fuel of an S-300 missile, causing it to launch itself and crash into an open field nearby.

The time and location of the first attack were not disclosed, while the second attack appears to have taken place in a Ukrainian-controlled area of Zaporizhzhia province. On May 21, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the destruction of a Ukrainian S-300 system in the village of Zheltoye in Donetsk province.

The S-300 system remains the primary long-range air defense missile system in Ukraine's arsenal, despite the country having recently received two US-made Patriot systems and prioritizing the defense of the capital, Kyiv.

Recently leaked classified US documents assess that Ukraine's air defenses are increasingly deteriorating after more than a year of fighting and are unable to prevent Russia from achieving complete air superiority. Ukraine's S-300 missile stockpiles are also at risk of being depleted in the near future.

Western experts consider running out of anti-aircraft missiles a catastrophic scenario for Ukraine, leaving its air defense network with numerous gaps. This would allow Russian aircraft to approach more targets and fire short-range weapons, instead of using long-range missiles which are expensive and have limited supply.

The Russia-Ukraine battlefield situation. Graphic: WP

The Lancet suicide drone, launched by Russia in 2019, is capable of operating independently, without the need for support from ground or sea-based control systems. After detecting a target, the Lancet can fly towards it to destroy it using the explosive charge it carries. Sensors on the Lancet record the approach to the target and transmit live images to the command center to assess the effectiveness of the attack.

The original Lancet variant had a range of 40 km and carried a 3 kg warhead, while the upgraded Lancet model had a superior range and was equipped with a more powerful 5 kg warhead.

Vu Anh (According to Ria Novosti, Reuters )

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