Russia’s new Tsitadel anti-aircraft artillery system reportedly intercepted and destroyed a Ukrainian Flamingo cruise missile using just two 30mm airburst shells, according to details published by Izvestia.

The missile was traveling at more than 500 kilometers per hour while flying no higher than 100 meters above a forest. Despite its extremely low altitude, the system’s radar detected the approaching target.

After assessing the situation, the commander of the air defense crew ordered the engagement. Only two rounds were reportedly needed to destroy the missile.

The interception highlighted the capabilities of Tsitadel’s programmable airburst ammunition, which Russian troops refer to as smart shells.

Unlike conventional ammunition that relies on a direct hit, these 30mm rounds are designed to detonate approximately one to 1.5 meters from the target, releasing a concentrated cloud of fragments.

According to the report, a single shell carries enough destructive power to tear apart a GAZelle minibus.

Each Tsitadel weapons module is equipped with two ammunition belts containing 150 programmable rounds apiece, providing a total of 300 shells.

The Ukrainian missile’s warhead, reportedly carrying approximately one tonne of explosives, detonated in midair following the interception.

Debris fell into a wooded area, with no casualties or property damage reported.

A Russian Aerospace Forces air defense battalion commander using the callsign Spartak attributed the successful interception to the crew’s training and the capabilities of the new anti-aircraft system.