Russian Iskander missile destroys 2 US Patriot systems in Donetsk
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According to early data, the Russian strike damaged an S-300 missile system of Ukrainian soldiers near the town of Pokrovsk in the DPR.
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One of the destroyed Patriot air defense system launchers from a Russian drone footage (Russian MoD)
A security source informed Sputnik on Saturday that two US-made Patriot systems were destroyed by a Russian Iskander missile defense system attack in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR).
Large convoy of Ukrainian air defense systems destroyed by what looks like an Iskander.
— ayden (@squatsons) March 9, 2024
The system was originally labeled an S-300 but some sources are claiming Patriot.
Pokrovsk direction.
Update: it looks to be multiple Patriot launchers and a possible radar. pic.twitter.com/YQQwJsc4rf
The Russian Defense Ministry announced Iskander's strike earlier in the day. According to early data, the Russian strike damaged an S-300 missile system of Ukrainian soldiers near the town of Pokrovsk in the DPR. Sputnik later obtained footage revealing that Iskander's attack damaged three missile installations.
"A control analysis has found that captured on the video was not only the S-300, as previously stated, but two of the three vehicles destroyed [by the strike] were the Patriot missile systems," according to the source.
How fragile are Ukraine's defense lines?
NewsWeek reported on Thursday, citing military sources, that the recent capture of Avdiivka has been followed by the continuous expansion of Russian control along the frontlines.
According to the source, Ukrainian forces are "both outmanned and outgunned along the front." The recent fall of Avdiivka was in part blamed on ammunition shortages.
Since then, Russia's expansion has been "incremental" and will likely increase in the short-term as long as aid remains stalled in the West.
According to the arms-maker-funded Institute for the Study of War, the victory in the battle of Avdiivka has opened new avenues for land control in surrounding areas, and Russian forces are working rapidly to increase their presence along the frontlines before Ukrainian forces rebuild a more cohesive defense line.
Last week, Dmytro Lykhovyi, spokesman for the Ukrainian Tavriisk Group of Forces, announced that his troops had pulled back from Stepove, approximately eight miles north of Avdiivka. Russian troops, on the other hand, declared control of Tonenke to the south, along with other nearby territories.
Other think tanks found that Russian troops have expanded to other parts of Donetsk, including west of Bakhmut and eastern parts of Ivanivske.
"Avdiivka was a pyrrhic victory but a victory nonetheless. The ground behind it is flatter and the breaching of this stronghold calls into question Ukraine's overall strategy amid the hold-up in US Congress," Zev Faintuch, the senior intelligence analyst at security firm Global Guardian, told NewsWeek.
Biden considers giving Ukraine $200MM from US Army Funds: Bloomberg
The Biden administration is weighing utilizing around $200 million from US Army funds to give Ukraine immediate "security assistance" as attempts to approve new funding in Congress are hindered, Bloomberg cited sources today.
Noting that a final decision has not been reached yet, the report added that this funding would be utilized for vital weapons, supplies, and other equipment.
A spokesman for the US Defense Department informed Sputnik on Wednesday that they were aware of reports suggesting the Biden administration is thinking of utilizing US Army cash to give Ukraine emergency assistance, but they could not comment further at this time.
"We’ve seen the report but have nothing to offer on this," the spokesperson said.
