A video circulating on social media yesterday shows a new Russian S-350 Vityaz surface-to-air missile system driving straight into a row of mines and exploding in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine’s Luhansk region.
According to the Militarnyi news agency, the S-350 fell victim to a mishap after entering an unmarked minefield reportedly laid by Russian troops to deter a potential Ukrainian assault.
The incident caused severe damage to the mobile launcher chassis of the 50P6 component of the S-350 system. Russian forces reportedly drove into the minefield while moving at night. It is also noted that the damaged launcher remains in place due to concerns over evacuating it amid the large number of anti-tank mines surrounding the area.
The S-350, which reportedly entered serial production in March 2019 and was commissioned in February 2020, is designed to engage aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missile targets.
The S-350 system includes the 50K6 command post, 50N6 multifunctional radars, and 50P6 launcher units, each carrying 12 9M96 missiles.
The system’s deployment time is approximately five minutes and it is operated by a crew of three.