(DONETSK, UKRAINE) – Military operators from the Ukrainian 412th Separate Unmanned Systems Brigade, known as Nemesis, successfully targeted and destroyed a high value Russian 9S32 radar station on 5 January 2026. The operation took place in the Donetsk region and utilised a medium range strike asset to neutralise what experts describe as the brain of the S300V surface to air missile system.
This specific radar unit is responsible for the critical task of guiding twelve missiles at up to six targets simultaneously, and its removal renders the associated battery effectively non operational. While no spotter drone was present to film the secondary explosions, Ukrainian military reports confirmed the total destruction of the equipment following a direct hit by a drone.
The 9S32 is a sophisticated guidance radar that works in tandem with the 9S15 detection radar to form a complete S300V battery. Because each battery typically relies on a single guidance radar of this type, the strike has successfully taken the entire multi million dollar air defence unit offline.
The S300V was originally developed in the 1980s to provide specialised protection against ballistic and cruise missiles with engagement ranges reaching up to 100 kilometres. Such systems are relatively rare on the modern battlefield compared to other S300 variants, as the Russian dictator has historically relied on the Buk system for medium range air defence.
However, high attrition rates among Buk units have recently forced the Kremlin to deploy these more expensive and rare S300V units closer to the front lines to fill widening gaps in their defensive screen. This shift suggests that consistent Ukrainian pressure is successfully degrading the Russian air defence network and forcing the use of unsuitable strategic assets in tactical roles.
Video footage of the engagement also captured the moment a Russian soldier fled the scene as the drone approached, abandoning a comrade and the valuable equipment. This incident occurred in the southern theatre of the Donetsk region where the Nemesis Brigade is known to operate. While exact coordinates were not released, the strike is part of a broader trend where Ukrainian forces have neutralised approximately $250,000,000 (roughly 19,800,000,000 Rubles) worth of Russian air defence assets in the opening weeks of 2026. These losses are difficult for Moscow to replace due to the complexity of the phased array antenna modules used in the 9S32 system.
Independent tracking of Russian equipment losses remains challenging as many strikes occur without the presence of recording drones. While the Russian dictator claimed to have thousands of S300 launchers in previous decades, many older variants like the S300P have been retired, leaving an estimated 800 active launchers at the start of the full scale invasion.
Each battery requires specific radar infrastructure to function, and the destruction of individual guidance units creates blind spots that Ukraine is increasingly able to exploit. The continued loss of these “brains” suggests a growing vulnerability in the Russian occupation’s ability to protect its strategic infrastructure from aerial assault.