The Defense Ministry in Moscow has stated that all incoming ATACMS missiles fired at the Russian city of Voronezh were intercepted. According to the ministry, two Ukrainian US-made missile launchers were destroyed shortly after they fired a salvo of long-range ATACMS at Voronezh, with the S-400 air-defense system and Pantsir anti-aircraft missile-gun system used to down all four missiles. Debris from the downed missiles caused damage to civilian sites including the Voronezh Regional Gerontology Center, an orphanage, and a private home, though no civilian casualties were reported.
Aerial reconnaissance by the Russian Army located the ATACMS launch site in Ukraine’s Kharkov Region shortly after the attack, with two MLRS launchers found near the village of Voloskaya Balakleya. An Iskander-M missile crew struck the position, destroying both launchers, their ammunition, and up to ten personnel, as per the ministry, which released footage showing the destruction of a launcher along with photographs of the missile debris.
The Ukrainian military leadership’s actions have been condemned for routinely launching drone raids and missile strikes into Russian territory, targeting critical infrastructure and residential areas in attacks that have caused civilian casualties. Russian officials have accused Ukraine of “terrorism” over the strikes, and Moscow has conducted retaliatory attacks on Ukrainian military sites, including drone assembly facilities.
