Russian Pantsir-M System Destroys Storm Shadow for First Time: Manufacturer

One of Russia's Pantsir-M air-defense systems has intercepted a Ukrainian-fired long-range Storm Shadow missile, according to Russian state media reports, in what appears to be the first time Russian sources have claimed the naval air-defense system has taken out one of the Western-made cruise missiles.

A Russian ship "on combat duty" close to Ukraine "engaged" a Storm Shadow missile with the Pantsir-M, Russian state media reported, citing Oleg Ryazantsev, a senior executive at a Russian weapons manufacturer.

The Pantsir-M is a naval variant in the Pantsir family of air-defense systems. Moscow's forces have previously used the land-based Pantsir S-1 against Ukrainian troops in the more than two years of war against Kyiv.

Russian state media reported in the early stages of the Pantsir-M's testing programs that the system would be attached to a variety of warships, including small missile ships to larger patrol vessels.

"The naval variant of Russia's Pantsir surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft artillery system has made its combat debut, taking on and defeating Storm Shadow cruise missiles in the Ukrainian conflict zone," Russian state outlet Sputnik reported on Sunday.

Newsweek has reached out to the Russian Defense Ministry for comment via email.

Ukraine's Western allies have provided some long-range strike capabilities to Kyiv in tranches of military aid. The British government said in May 2023 that it was delivering air-launched Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine.

In July, the French government then committed its version of the missiles, known as SCALP, to Ukraine's war effort.

The air-launched missiles have a range in excess of 155 miles, according to the manufacturer. Experts have suggested the true range of the cruise missiles may be more.

In the year since, Storm Shadow and SCALP missiles have been credited with a number of high-profile successes for Ukraine's military. In September 2023, Storm Shadow missiles were used to strike Russia's Black Sea fleet naval base in Sevastopol, in western Crimea.

The missile strikes damaged Moscow's Rostov-on-Don submarine and the Minsk landing ship at the Ordzhonikidze shipyard, Ukraine's military intelligence agency said.

Destructive Ukrainian strikes using the Western weapons are deeply embarrassing to Moscow, not least when levelled at the Black Sea fleet. Based partly on the annexed Crimean peninsula, Ukrainian officials estimated that Russia had lost up to a third of the fleet since February 2022 through a combination of Ukrainian missile and drone strikes.

Russia's Defense Minister, Sergei Shoigu, said last month that the Black Sea fleet would also be upgraded to feature better defenses against Ukrainian drone attacks, including large-caliber guns.

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