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Deadly Collision: Missile System and Train Collide in Donetsk People's Republic

Deadly Collision: Missile System and Train Collide in Donetsk People's Republic
photo: apostrophe.ua/Deadly Collision: Missile System and Train Collide in Donetsk People's Republic
03 / 10 / 2023

In an alarming incident in the internationally unrecognized Donetsk People's Republic on October 3rd, a train collided with a Strela-10 air defence system, resulting in a derailed locomotive and damaged railway tracks. The accident occurred on the Yenakiyevo-Uglegorsk section and involved the Strela-10, a missile system attributed to the Russian Armed Forces.

Reports from the ASTRA Telegram channel reveal that the missile system's driver, as part of a military convoy, seemingly lost control and veered off a bridge, subsequently getting struck by the oncoming freight train. The collision led to the deaths of three Russian soldiers, injuring two others.

The Strela-10 air defence system is a Soviet-era anti-aircraft missile system crafted for the ground forces. Introduced into the Armed Forces of the USSR in 1976. According to Focus, it is specifically designed for ground force operations. Its primary function is to identify aerial targets using an optoelectronic system and subsequently eliminate them with missiles when they are flying at low altitudes.

Built on the foundation of an MT-LB combat vehicle, the Strela-10 boasts a tracked chassis, enabling it to traverse off-road terrains and even swim. The surface-to-air missile (SAM) system is equipped with a launcher that can house four 9M37 anti-aircraft-guided missiles. An equivalent number of missiles can also be stored inside the combat compartment. These missiles can be directed using photo-contrast or infrared equipment. Additionally, a 7.62-caliber PKT machine gun is on hand for defensive purposes.

For historical context, the Donetsk People's Republic is an entity in eastern Ukraine that, though initially self-proclaimed in 2014, was later annexed by Russia. It has been heavily backed and controlled by Russian influence since 2014 and consistently claimed the territory of the Donetsk region of Ukraine.

Source: focus.ua

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