Belarus tests new missile for Buk air defense system near border with Ukraine

This was reported by the monitoring group Belaruski Gayun in Telegram, Ukrinform reports.

“Today, on December 10, a new anti-aircraft guided missile for the Buk-MB2 air defense system – 9M318 – was tested on the territory of the manskoye swamp and the new flight restriction zone in southern Belarus,” the group said.

According to Belaruski Gayun, the tests took place on the territory of the former 41st aviation training ground, where bombing exercises have been conducted since the 1960s.

It is noted that a new flight restriction zone is in effect on the same territory until December 20, 2024, and prohibits flights of all types of aircraft at altitudes of up to 20 km from the ground.

Similar firing in the same swamp took place in February 2022, when the Armed Forces of Belarus fired two live missile launches from the Tochka-U missile system as part of the Belarus-Russia “Allied Resve” exercise at a range of 70 km, as they are doing now during the Buk firing.

Since 2020, this area, called Pisk, has been provided to the Ministry of Defense and military-industrial complex organizations for free use annually from December 1 to February 28 for combat training activities, as well as for testing missile weapons and aircraft.

It was the test launches of the 9M318 that caused the air alert in northern Ukraine today.

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According to the available information, the 9M318 missile is designed to hit high-speed maneuvering aerial targets (drones), tactical missiles of various types, helicters, and ground targets.

The monitoring group reminded that the restriction zone is valid until December 20, so it is possible that missile launches in this area will continue in the coming days.

As reported by Ukrinform, this afternoon an air alert was declared in Kyiv region and a number of other regions.

Photo: Belaruski Gayun/Telegram