Counter-Offensive How Ukrainian Forces Are Destroying Russian Air Defenses

By Maya Carlin, Warrior Contributor, Weapons 

Ukraine’s counter-offensive is heating up.

This week, the open-source intelligence group Ukraine Weapons Tracker published footage depicting the destruction of a Russian 9A331M TLAR of the 9K332 Tor-M2 air defense system.

In the video released by @UAWeapons on Twitter, Ukrainian high-precision strikes took out this Russian military system in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

In the 27-second clip, the Russian air defense system is targeted by the strikes and immediately erupts into flames. The camera then pans to show billowing grey fumes which overtake the system.

What is the TOR system?

Moscow’s TOR mobile air defense system has remained a top target for Ukrainian forces since the onset of the invasion back in February 2022.

The all-weather, low-to-medium altitude, short-range surface-to-air missile was designed in the Soviet-era to destroy airframes, cruise missiles, ballistic threats and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Designated by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as SA-15 Gauntlet, Tor systems can travel at distances up to 10 miles.