Missile launcher hits office building in central Kyiv during military parade rehearsal

Five days ahead of Independence Day in Ukraine, and Kyiv is preparing to hold a large-scale military parade showcasing Ukraine’s army and weapons.

But at a rehearsal on the evening of Aug.18 there was a major glitch.

A Buk missile launcher, which reportedly was on its way to the parade rehearsal, came off the street and rammed into a wall of the Astarta business center in Podil. The incident occurred around 8.40 p.m. on Aug. 18. The missile launcher was being towed at the time, and not moving under its own power.

Photos and videos from the scene were widely shared on social media by witnesses, as the Buk’s appearance in downtown was very noticeable, and dozens of people followed the launcher.

“Here’s a parade for you! First, a tank nearly hit me but was able to stop. Following it (a Buk) also nearly ran over us and drove into an office building,” Facebook user Vlad Vash wrote in a post on his page with the first photos of the incident.

The Buk weapons system became infamous after Russia secretly sent into Ukraine a Buk launcher from the 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade in Kursk, which subsequently shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over the Russian-occupied part of the Donbas on July 17, 214. A total of 298 people were killed in the atrocity. The Kremlin has refused to admit responsibility for the crime.

(KYIV POST)