ASTRA found out that the “Kapustin Yar” strategic missile forces training ground (m/u 15644) in Znamensk, Astrakhan region, was attacked by drones on the morning of November 21. At least two drones were not shot down and struck at the 105 poligone of the range, sources say. The consequences of the attack are unknown, but the head of the region reported on the day of the attack about the fire:
“This morning the Ukrainian regime again attempted to attack our northern subregions of the Astrachan region. All services worked as expected. Some of the UAVs were suppressed by electronic warfare and eliminated, some were shot down by air defense, and it was its work that the residents heard. When the downed drone crashed, a fire occurred, which was promptly eliminated by the Emergency Service on duty. There are no casualties among residents and no damage to civilian infrastructure. I ask you to be guided only by official information and not to succumb to provocations.”
On the night of November 19-20, the AFU reported that an intercontinental ballistic missile hit the Dnieper. The head of Regional military administration reported 2 casualties, Western and Russian media wrote that the target of the attack was the “Yuzhmash” enterprise. This is the first use of such weapons in history. A hypersonic missile called “Hazel” was used to strike the Dnieper, said Putin. Officially, the Ukrainian Air Forces confirmed the launch of an intercontinental missile from the Astrakhan region, Ukrainian and Russian media wrote that the missile was launched from “Kapustin Yar”. On November 22, the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported that Russia hit the Dnieper with a ballistic missile, probably from the “Cedar” missile system, and not the “Hazel”. According to the Main Directorate, the complex was tested at the “Kapustin Yar” landfill in the Astrakhan region in October 2023 and June 2024.
As previously reported by ASTRA, the “Kapustin Yar” training ground has already been attacked by drones on July 9 this year. Then 9 UAVs hit the territory of military unit 15644, where the “Kapustin Yar” military training ground is located. Two more drones hit the territory of military unit 15650 in Akhtubinsk. In addition, on the same day, debris from an air defense missile fell on the territory of the Interior Ministry department in the Akhtuba district. According to sources, 30 police officers and two detainees had to be evacuated. There were no casualties.
In December 2023, residents of the closed military town of Znamensk in the Astrakhan region, where the “Kapustin Yar” training ground is located, complained to Putin about long-term problems with the supply of light, water, heat, access to drinking water, as well as kindergartens and education for children. In total, about 25 thousand people live in Znamensk. Most residents of Znamensk work at the “Kapustin Yar” landfill.
As said on the website of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the 4th State Central Interspecific training ground “Kapustin Yar” is a single research complex with high scientific and technical potential, <…> allowing testing and joint development of defensive and offensive weapons systems in the interests of all types and branches of the Armed Forces The forces of Russia.
“In particular, the “Kapustin Yar” test site is unique for testing elements of ballistic missile combat equipment. Only its test tracks and a test range measuring complex allow testing promising combat equipment in the entire range of possible conditions for its delivery to targets. The everyday life of the landfill is not only testing of new types of weapons, military equipment and research work, it is actually the largest training center of the country’s Armed Forces,” the website says.
