Russia’s armed forces claimed on Friday a successful strike against a launcher of Ukraine’s Neptune coastal defence missile system, located near the village of Liubytske in the Zaporizhzhia region.
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According to the Russian military, reconnaissance drones identified the system as it was preparing to fire. Minutes later, a 9M723 Iskander-M ballistic missile, equipped with a fragmentation warhead, was launched at the target.
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Russian reports state that the Iskander-M did not directly hit the launcher. However, fragments from the warhead landed near the system, triggering the auxiliary engine of one of the missiles loaded on the vehicle. The resulting explosion is said to have caused significant secondary damage, further amplified by a fire at the site.
So far, Ukrainian authorities have not confirmed details regarding the condition of the launcher or its crew. Preliminary information only suggests that the system sustained “serious damage” both from shrapnel and the subsequent fire.
First Neptune hit since 2022
If confirmed, this would be the first documented case of a Neptune system damaged by Russian forces since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The R-360 Neptune missile, developed locally by the Luch Design Bureau, gained international notoriety in April 2022 when it was used in the attack that sank the guided-missile cruiser Moskva, then flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.
Strategic weapon and priority target
Since then, the Neptune has been adapted into a land-attack version, capable of striking critical Russian infrastructure, command posts and logistical lines. Its range reaches 300 km in anti-ship configuration, but modifications have expanded its role in the conflict.
Due to the limited number of units produced and its proven effectiveness, the Neptune has become a high-value strategic target for Moscow.
The Neptune system consists of mobile launchers, command and control vehicles, transporter-loaders and support equipment.
Source and images: Russian Ministry of Defence | Telegram @mod_russia. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
