The strike on the market in Konstantinovka was inflicted by a Ukrainian missile launched from a “Buk” system – The New York Times

On September 6th, in the market of Konstantinovka in the Donetsk region, a Ukrainian missile from the “Buk” system exploded.

This information comes from an article in The New York Times.

According to the NYT report, footage from surveillance cameras shows that the missile entered Konstantinovka from the territory controlled by Ukraine, as previously reported by other Western journalists. Explosive experts believe that the crater and damage also correspond to a missile coming from the northwest, as noted by the publication.

Furthermore, NYT reports that Ukrainian military personnel launched two missiles from Druzhkivka, located just northwest of Konstantinovka, minutes before the tragedy occurred. Reporters from NYT were in Druzhkivka and heard the launch of the first missile at 2:00 PM, followed by a second launch (the strike on Konstantinovka occurred around 2:04 PM). Residents of Druzhkivka also reported the outgoing launches in a local online community.

“Two witnesses who spoke to The Times said they saw the missiles launched from Druzhkivka in the direction of the Russian front line, roughly at the time of the strike. A Ukrainian soldier stationed in Druzhkivka, who wished to remain anonymous, also reported hearing two missile launches at around the same time,” the newspaper writes.

Journalists claim to have found the missile launch site indicated by other witnesses, where they discovered trenches, garbage pits, and traces of wide tracks. Burned grass, characteristic of the operation of anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM), was also found at the scene.

“The sizes of the holes and fragments found at the scene correspond in size and shape to one specific weapon: the 9M38 missile launched by the ‘Buk’,” the authors write.

“At such a short distance – less than 10 miles – the missile most likely landed with unused fuel in its rocket engine, which exploded or ignited upon impact, providing a possible explanation for burn marks on the missile,” the article states.

An official spokesperson for the Armed Forces of Ukraine told the publication that the country’s intelligence agencies are conducting an investigation into the incident and declined to provide further comments, citing Ukrainian laws.

It’s worth noting that shortly after the September 6th strike, Ruslan Leviev, the founder of Conflict Intelligence Team, analyzed video footage from Konstantinovka, posted by President Zelensky, and suggested that the missile could have come from the northwest, where Ukrainian army positions are located. Leviev also speculated that the missile was launched by a Ukrainian aircraft. He emphasized that it was a tragic accident rather than a deliberate strike.

It’s also worth mentioning that Julian Röpke, a well-known commentator for Bild newspaper, previously reported that Ukrainian military personnel launched the missile that exploded in Konstantinovka.

As a result of the strike, 15 people died, and 30 others were injured.