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Command post mobile 55K6E, the brain of the Russian S-400 missile system, was destroyed by a HIMARS rocket fired by Ukrainian troops. Photo/Twitter @bayraktar_1love
KIEV – Ukraine reportedly managed to destroy a significant part of one Russia’s advanced S-400 missile system with United States (US) supplied HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System).
Photos circulating on social media showed the destroyed equipment was command post mobile 55K6E, thought to be the brains of the S-400 missile system. The photos were taken from the southern Kherson region.
“First confirmed photo of the destroyed Russian command post of the S-400 Triumph air defense system, 55K6E. As stated, it was destroyed on the territory of the Kherson region with the help of HIMARS, somewhere on May 20, 2023,” wrote account user @ bayraktar_1love, who uploaded the photos on Wednesday (31/5/2023).
The photos could not be independently verified. Russia’s Defense Ministry has yet to comment.
“While it is difficult to confirm those reports at this stage, this is exactly the type of equipment HIMARS would target,” military expert David Hambling told Newsweek, Thursday (1/6/2023).
Hambling described the 55K6E mobile command post as the brains of the S-400 missile system. “Getting rid of this one vehicle is an effective way. How to disable the battery,” he said.
“The S-400 systems are of great value, usually located far back behind the front lines where other artillery cannot reach them, and destroying them will improve the tactical position by allowing Ukrainian drones and aircraft to fly more freely,” he added.
The S-400 has been used by Russian forces to intercept rockets fired by HIMARS. “So it’s probably a direct duel between the two systems,” said Hambling.
“The S-400 may have shot down several incoming rockets, but losing just one was enough to seal its fate,” said Hambling.
