A Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile hit the market in Kramatorsk on September 6

The strike on the market in Kramatorsk on September 6 in the Ukrainian-controlled territory of the DPR was carried out by a missile from the Ukrainian Buk anti-aircraft missile system, the New York Times reported based on the results of the investigation. This strike resulted in the death of 15 people.

Journalists of the publication interviewed eyewitnesses, including a Ukrainian serviceman, analyzed satellite images and found ready-made submunitions at the site of the strike, similar to those used in the warhead of the 9M37 missile of the Buk complex, although the Ukrainian military tried to prevent this. In addition, journalists managed to find the proposed missile launch site near the town of Druzhkovka. As follows from the material, the rocket exploded in the air.

The blow to the market occurred on the same day that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Kyiv for a visit. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky blamed the Russian Federation for the strike.

A year ago, the New York Times already reported that a residential building in Kramatorsk was hit by an American HARM anti-radar missile used by Ukraine.

From the very beginning, from the words of eyewitnesses and photos and videos from the scene of the tragedy, it was possible to understand that the blow was struck from the Ukrainian side, says retired Colonel Viktor Murakhovsky, editor-in-chief of Arsenal of the Fatherland magazine. According to him, cases of Ukrainian air defense anti-aircraft missiles hitting residential buildings, including in the rear, have been quite numerous since the beginning of the military operation. Ready-made striking elements of anti-aircraft missile warheads leave characteristic numerous marks on the walls of houses, cars and other surfaces.

Russian cruise missiles and loitering munitions are designed to destroy stationary ground targets and are not equipped with such warheads, since they are useless for such tasks, the expert continues. In addition, Ukrainian air defense seems to be irresponsible in identifying prohibited firing sectors, which must be taken into account to avoid anti-aircraft missiles hitting residential buildings. And the missiles themselves were often produced 30 years ago and their shelf life has expired, the expert says.