Ukraine Fires Swedish RBS 15 Missile at Russian Oil Platform
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- Ukrainian Navy launched an RBS 15 anti-ship cruise missile from a truck-mounted launcher at the Russian-occupied Sivash oil platform on April 6, 2026, according to online footage
- RBS 15 missile emitted a double exhaust plume during boost phase, a distinctive feature not seen on other Ukrainian long-range missiles, supporting identification of the weapon system
- Sivash oil platform—seized by Russia in 2014 and used for military surveillance—was targeted with the missile strike, halting any potential resumption of drilling operations
- Finland, Sweden, Croatia, Germany, and Poland operate variants of the RBS 15 missile, though it remains unconfirmed which country supplied the system to Ukraine or when the transfer occurred
- Truck-mounted launcher in the video resembles the Finnish Sisu chassis used for RBS 15 deployments, though low-quality footage prevents definitive confirmation of the launch platform's origin
Why it matters: Ukraine’s use of the RBS 15 extends its precision strike range in the Black Sea and signals access to advanced Western-supplied anti-ship capabilities, altering the naval balance against Russian forces operating from occupied platforms. The deployment suggests deeper military integration with Nordic and Central European allies who operate the system.
