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Ukraine strikes Iskander-M launcher and Russian military sites in occupied regions

Ukraine's forces struck an Iskander-M missile launcher in Russia's Kursk region and several Russian military facilities in occupied parts of Ukraine on October 29 and during the night into October 30. The targets included ammunition depots, a materiel depot, a repair unit and a repair-and-recovery base.

Key points

  • An Iskander-M launcher was struck near Fatezh in Russia's Kursk region on October 29 and overnight into October 30.
  • Ammo depots were hit near Maloianysolia in Donetsk, Novoyegorovka in Kharkiv and Hanusivka in Luhansk.
  • A materiel depot was struck in the Bilovodsk district.
  • A Russian repair unit was hit in the Rubizhne district of Luhansk.
  • A repair-and-recovery base was struck in the Pysarivka district of Luhansk.
  • Ukraine's General Staff said the Iskander-M strike reduces Russia's capacity to launch ballistic strikes on Ukrainian cities.

Why it matters

The strikes target capabilities that support Russia's offensive operations. Ukraine's General Staff says destroying an Iskander-M launcher reduces the Russian military's ability to conduct ballistic strikes on Ukrainian cities. Hitting ammunition depots lowers its firepower capabilities, while strikes on repair units and repair-and-recovery bases complicate the restoration of damaged equipment and its return to the front.

What happened

On October 29 and during the night into October 30, Ukrainian forces conducted strikes against Russian military assets in Russia's Kursk region and on occupied Ukrainian territory. The reported targets included an Iskander-M launcher near Fatezh, ammunition depots near Maloianysolia, Novoyegorovka and Hanusivka, a materiel depot in the Bilovodsk district, a repair unit near Rubizhne and a repair-and-recovery base near Pysarivka. Ukrainian sources described the operation as reducing Russia's ballistic-strike, firepower and equipment-recovery capabilities.

How Ukrainian sources describe it

Ukrainian outlets focused on the precise districts targeted and the operational effects of the strikes, citing data from Ukraine's General Staff. They presented the results as operational achievements by Ukrainian forces.

Background

The struck sites were located in Russia's Kursk region and in occupied parts of Donetsk, Kharkiv and Luhansk oblasts. The reporting also noted the destruction of two Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers at the Maryinka airfield in Volgograd region during the week covered by the reports.