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Russian BM-21 Grad Destroyed Near Zaporizhzhia as Drones Expand Kill Zone for Artillery
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![Photo of Katherina Popilnichenko]( "Photo of Katherina Popilnichenko")
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Operators from the 413th Brigade of the Unmanned Systems Forces, known as "Raid," recently destroyed a Russian BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher system on the Zaporizhzhia front.
The operation required two drone strikes to successfully neutralize the vehicle. This direction of the front is currently seeing significant activity and the incident provides insight into the current state of Russia’s reactive artillery, according to Defense Express on March 11.
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The Russian crew had to enter a “kill zone” that extends 10 to 20 kilometers from the line of contact. It is likely the crew intended to follow standard procedures, which involve three and a half minutes for deployment, 20 seconds to fire a full 40-rocket pack, and one minute to leave the position.
At the beginning of last year, the BM-21 Grad was the most common rocket system in the Russian military, with 650 units in active service and another 500 in storage.
Footage of the strike shows the Grad lacked additional protection, such as metal cages over the launchers. This suggests the vehicle may have been recently taken out of storage before the crew could add reinforcements, or that the practice of adding extra protection to artillery is not universal within the Russian army.
The video shows the vehicle was intercepted while still moving toward its firing position. The range of the Ukrainian drones used in the attack significantly exceeded the 20-kilometer firing range of the Grad itself.
The fact that this rocket system was moving to its mission alone confirms that the Russian military has largely abandoned the practice of deploying artillery in batteries or pairs to avoid drone threats, according to Defense Express.
Russian forces now prefer individual placement and often hide their systems several dozen kilometers away from the frontline.
The situation suggests that the Russian military is willing to risk its reactive artillery to maintain the intensity of combat, even as these systems are increasingly targeted by effective drone units like the 413th Brigade.
On February 28, units of the National Guard of Ukraine successfully intercepted and destroyed two Russian BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launchers in the Donetsk region.
The operation was carried out by the Lasar’s Group special operations unit, which used heavy “LAZAR” bomber drones to strike the vehicles. One of the systems was actively shelling Ukrainian positions at the moment of the attack, and while a Russian soldier attempted to extinguish the fire after the first hit, he eventually fled into the treeline.
Both rocket systems were completely eliminated, significantly reducing the enemy’s fire capabilities in that sector.
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-111f0e5095e02c02446ffed57bfb0ab1.jpeg "Photo of Roman Kohanets")
