(LUHANSK OBLAST) – Ukraine has carried out a long range strike against Russian rear positions in Luhansk Oblast, destroying 14 military vehicles in a single operation, according to released footage and Ukrainian reports.
The video, filmed in early February and shared publicly only this week, shows a series of precision strikes conducted at night. Ukrainian sources said the operation targeted rear areas approximately 50 kilometres from the front line, similar to a previous strike in late January.
According to the tally provided by Ukraine, the destroyed equipment included three 2S7 Pion self propelled howitzers, one TOS 1 heavy multiple launch rocket system, one TZM T loader vehicle for the TOS 1, one command and control vehicle, and seven armoured fighting vehicles, mainly BMP variants.
The first targets shown were three 2S7 Pion 203 mm self propelled howitzers, reportedly from the same battery and positioned in close proximity. The systems were struck by bomber drones, believed to be of the Baba Yaga type, although this has not been independently confirmed. The drones appeared to use assisted targeting to guide munitions accurately onto the vehicles.
Footage then showed a TOS 1 system concealed among trees being hit. No large secondary detonation was visible, suggesting it may not have been fully loaded at the time. A TZM T loader vehicle associated with the same battery was also struck while positioned under cover.
A Russian command and control vehicle was subsequently hit directly from above. The specific model was not identified. The video concluded with a compilation of strikes on seven BMP infantry fighting vehicles hidden in wooded positions.
This operation follows a similar long range drone strike in late January in Luhansk Oblast, in which 14 armoured vehicles, mainly BMP and MT LB variants, were destroyed in a single mission. In the earlier attack, Ukrainian bomber drones penetrated deep into Russian rear areas. The February strike differed in that it also targeted heavy artillery and a multiple launch rocket system.
The delay between the February operation and the release of footage suggests the possibility of additional similar strikes not yet made public.
The 2S7 Pion is a 203 mm self propelled howitzer developed in the 1970s, with a standard range of 37.5 kilometres. Russia had approximately 125 in service at the start of the full scale invasion. Open source monitoring project Oryx has visually confirmed at least 37 destroyed prior to this strike, bringing the figure to at least 40 following the latest losses.
The TOS 1 is a heavy multiple launch rocket system with a maximum range of around 10 kilometres. Russia reportedly had 36 in service at the start of the war, although additional units may have been delivered. Oryx has documented 35 destroyed. The destruction of both the launcher and its loader vehicle in this operation represents a further reduction in available systems.
Russia operates three main BMP variants. At the outset of the invasion, it had around 750 BMP 1, 550 BMP 2 and 650 BMP 3 vehicles in active service, with an estimated 3,000 additional units in storage. According to open source data, more than 1,000 BMP 1, over 500 BMP 2 and more than 700 BMP 3 vehicles have been destroyed, in addition to more than 350 BMPs of unidentified variants.
Ukrainian officials said the strike demonstrates the ability to penetrate deep into Russian rear areas and target high value systems. The operation also raises further questions about the effectiveness of Russian air defences in protecting equipment away from the immediate front line.
