Russian Buk-M2 Air Defense System Caught by Ukrainian Recon and Burned to the Ground

A Russian Buk-M2 air defense system that initially appeared only damaged after a Ukrainian strike later burned down completely, according to footage released by Ukraine’s 15th “Black Forest” Artillery Reconnaissance Brigade on May 19.

The Russian launcher was first spotted by the brigade’s aerial reconnaissance operators. After the target was identified, Ukrainian forces struck it while a drone remained overhead to monitor the result.

At first, the footage did not make the outcome clear. The Buk-M2 seemed to have suffered damage but remained visually intact. Minutes later, however, the system caught fire and was eventually consumed by flames.

The brigade said the Russian Buk-M2 “burned out under the Donbas sun.”

The Buk-M2, known by NATO as the SA-17 Grizzly, is one of Russia’s key medium-range air defense systems. It is designed to engage aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, drones, and other aerial threats.

The system can reportedly strike targets at ranges from 3 to 45 kilometers and at altitudes from 15 meters to 25 kilometers. A Buk-M2 battery is capable of engaging multiple targets at once, making it a valuable part of Russia’s layered air defense network.

Its destruction adds to Ukraine’s continued campaign to degrade Russian air defenses, opening more space for Ukrainian drones, precision strikes, and reconnaissance operations across the front.

Earlier, Ukrainian operators from the Unmanned Systems Forces struck multiple Russian military targets in occupied parts of the Donetsk region, including a PRV-16 radar height finder, a P-18 early warning radar, ammunition depots, and fuel storage facilities.

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