An attack using Russia's Iskander-M ballistic missile system reportedly succeeded in destroying a Ukrainian train in the disputed village of Budi in the Kharkiv region, destroying several train carriages and nearby infrastructure. There was a pause after the first attack while personnel from Ukraine's Ministry of Interior and State Emergency Services entered the area to assess the damage, before a second Iskander-M launch was scheduled to minimize casualties. The second attack resulted in the death of the head of the Kharkiv regional department of the State Emergency Service, among others.
According to reports, Russia used the “Iskander-M” missile for the first time in November 2023 using a new “double strike” tactic. times, which has strained the Russian army's inventory of 9K720 missiles. Growing perceptions that the Ukrainian military was on the verge of collapse, following the failure of a major offensive against Russian forces starting in June of that year, also increased the incentive to maximize casualties from that point on.
Since being put into service in 2006, the “Iskander” system has become an increasingly important part of Russia's strike capabilities. 1 loading vehicle, 11 command vehicles, 14 personnel support vehicles, and a data vehicle. Each can deploy 48 missiles simultaneously and can be quickly re-armed if located near a missile storage facility. The missiles are launched from a semi-ballistic low orbit approximately 50 kilometers from apogee and can perform extensive flight maneuvers throughout their flight path. Not only does this make their missiles extremely difficult to detect or track, but it also allows them to use their tail fins to maneuver better than standard ballistic trajectories.
Since March, the Iskander-M system has received special attention for its successful use in air defense suppression operations against Ukrainian Patriot missile systems as well as other surface-to-air missile assets, making it a force multiplier that significantly increases nearby Vulnerability of Ukrainian forces. In early July, the system also successfully attacked the Mirgorod Air Force Base, destroying the few remaining Su-27 fighter jets in Ukraine, causing a very serious blow to its combat aviation capabilities.