A current Ukrainian strike has focused Russian S-400 lengthy vary air defence programs guarding the Crimean Peninsula, with footage launched by the Principal Directorate of Intelligence primarily based in Kiev exhibiting the destruction of two 92N2E multi-functional hearth management radars, two 91N6E lengthy vary surveillance radars, and one surface-to-air missile battery. “These radars are the ‘eyes’ of the enemy’s air defence system,” the directorate introduced, including that “with out them, the anti-aircraft programs are rendered inoperable.” “Operations focusing on air defence radars will proceed,” it added, emphasising that the strike was a part of a wider technique to destroy Russia’s detection and engagement programs in disputed territories. S-400 programs have been closely concentrated in Crimea because the late 2010s, with the disputed peninsula being claimed by each Moscow and Kiev, whereas international locations throughout the Western world have supported the Ukrainian declare. The Ukrainian authorities has repeatedly struck each navy and civilian targets on the peninsula because the outbreak of full scale hostilities between the 2 international locations in February 2022.
In November 2024 the Ukrainian Armed Forces have been accepted by Washington to start strikes into internationally recognised Russian territory utilizing U.S.-supplied ATACMS ballistic missiles, and on November 23 destroyed two launchers from an S-400 system within the Russian Kursk area. Two months later a profitable strike neutralised an 92N6 detection radar close to the frontlines close to town of Belgorod in Kursk. Russia’s restricted investments in tactical fight aviation have led to a very excessive reliance on ground-based air defence programs to counter NATO air energy, which has made the destruction of S-400s which type the spine of its air defence community notably detrimental to the nation’s safety. Past the usage of Western satellites for focusing on, and the presence of Western lively obligation and contractor personnel for focusing on assist, Ukraine additionally been broadly assessed to have benefitted from vital digital intelligence on Russian air defence programs from plane working across the theatre, most notably together with F-35 fighters deployed in Japanese Europe. Different surveillance property equivalent to E-3 AEW&C programs and RQ-4A World Hawk drones have additionally maintained a big presence round Ukraine and over the Black Sea.
