Ukrainian Drone Finds and Hits Elite Russian Tornado-S Rocket System Near Occupied Melitopol

A Ukrainian drone unit has struck a Russian Tornado-S multiple launch rocket system near temporarily occupied Melitopol, targeting one of Moscow’s most advanced long-range artillery platforms.

The 422nd Unmanned Systems Regiment of Ukraine’s 17th Army Corps carried out the strike and released video footage of the operation on April 26.

According to OSINT analyst moklasen, the system was detected by a reconnaissance drone along the E58 highway between the villages of Chekhograd and Udachne, in occupied territory in the Zaporizhzhia region.

The footage shows the drone identifying a column of Russian vehicles before passing over an escort vehicle and two trucks belonging to a mobile air defense group equipped with ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns. As it approached the target, the drone descended and struck the launcher area of the Tornado-S system.

The 9K515 Tornado-S is a modernized Russian multiple launch rocket system based on the Soviet-era 9K58 Smerch, firing 300 mm rockets designed for long-range strikes.

Unlike its predecessor, the system features an automated fire control system that allows crews to align and target launches directly from inside the vehicle.

It is also capable of firing guided munitions equipped with satellite navigation based on GLONASS, enabling individual rockets in a salvo to be assigned separate coordinates.

These guided rockets can reach targets at distances of up to 120 kilometers, making the Tornado-S a key component of Russia’s long-range strike capability.

Earlier, Ukraine’s Security Service reported strikes on multiple Russian military targets in temporarily occupied Crimea, including naval vessels, air defense systems, and a fighter jet.

The operation was carried out by the agency’s “Alpha” special unit using drones, targeting facilities in Sevastopol and at the Belbek military airfield.

The SBU stated that three Russian naval vessels were hit during the operation: the large landing ships Yamal and Filchenkov, as well as the intelligence-gathering ship Ivan Khurs.