Ukrainian military officials said on Saturday that its gunners had destroyed a Russian Pantsir-1S missile system, as seen in released photos. The system entered service with the Russian military in 2012 and is designed to protect a limited area from enemy aircraft. The video was obtained by the Ukrainian Joint Task Force, along with a statement. The images were also broadcast by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Ukrainian military officials said on July 2, 2022 that its artillery destroyed a $15 million Russian Pantsir-1S missile system, which entered service with the Russian military in 2012 and is designed to protect a limited area from enemy aircraft. @easternbridgehead/Zenger The Joint Task Force stated: “How can a well-placed strike deprive an enemy of $15 million worth of equipment? It’s very simple: when on the Donbas steppes Ukrainian artillerymen encounter a much-hyped Russian “Pantsir-1S” anti- aircraft”. They explained: “Pantsir-S1 is a Russian self-propelled anti-aircraft missile and weapon system. It is used to cover civilian and military objects from air attacks. It can also protect a facility from ground and surface threats. “The machine was developed by the Tula Design Instrument Bureau. The complex was created in 1994, since then it has been modernized. At the end of 2012, the Pantsir-S1 air defense system was used by the Russian army. “The development time of the complex is up to 5 minutes. Its ammunition: 12 rounds 57E6-E, 1400 rounds. The missiles can hit targets at a height of up to 15 kilometers [9 miles] and at a distance of up to 20 kilometers [12 miles] ; projectiles can fly up to 4 km [2.4 miles]. The cost is $15 million.” The Ukrainian General Staff said: “How a well-aimed shot can deprive the enemy of equipment worth almost 15 million dollars.” Zenger News reached out to the Ukrainian Joint Task Force for further comment, as well as the Russian Ministry of Defense, but had not received a response at the time of writing. Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 in what the Kremlin still calls a “special military operation.” July 4 marks the 131st day of the invasion. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between February 24 and July 4, Russia had lost approximately 36,200 personnel, 1,589 tanks, 3,754 armored fighting vehicles, 804 artillery units, 246 multiple launch missile systems, 105 air defense systems, 217 warplanes, 187 helicopters, 658 drones, 144 cruise missiles, 15 warships, 2,629 motor vehicles and fuel tankers and 65 units of special equipment. Other developments in the Russia-Ukraine war: The leaders of dozens of countries, as well as international organizations and companies are gathering in Switzerland to draw up a “Marshall Plan” road map for rebuilding Ukraine after the end of the war. Russia has announced that it has captured the eastern Ukrainian town of Lysychansk, in Severodonetsk Raion, Luhansk Oblast. This has now been confirmed by Ukraine’s military, which said it withdrew its troops from the city after heavy fighting in order to “preserve the lives of the defenders”. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that Ukrainian forces would retake the city “thanks to an increase in the supply of modern weapons”. The fall of Lysychansk comes just over a week after the nearby city of Severodonetsk fell to the Russians. Sloviansk, an eastern Ukrainian city in the Donetsk region, was hit by shelling on Sunday, killing at least six people and injuring 20 others, according to the city’s mayor, Vadim Liak. The Ukrainian governor of Luhansk, Serhiy Haidai, claimed that Russian forces are now likely to shift their focus to the neighboring Donetsk region. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Kyiv, with Australia pledging to send more than $100 million in new aid to Ukraine. Turkish authorities have seized a Russian cargo ship carrying grain allegedly stolen from Ukraine. The ship reportedly contained more than 7,000 tons of grain that Russian officials said would be sent to “friendly” countries. Ukraine has rejected Russian claims that its forces targeted civilian areas in the Russian city of Belgorod, killing three people. Russian state media has claimed that two more Britons arrested by Russian troops in Ukraine have been charged with mercenary activities. They were named as Dylan Healy, a chef who had volunteered as an assistant, and Andrew Hill, who was shown by Russia in military uniform. The announcement comes after two other Britons, Shaun Pinner and Aiden Aslin, were sentenced to death last month. The European Court of Human Rights intervened, asking that the sentences not be carried out, but this was rejected by Russia, which said it would not implement the court’s rulings and that the decision to execute the men belonged to the pro-Russians, hence the name of the Donetsk People’s Republic. This story was reported to Newsweek by Zenger News.
