(DONBAS, UKRAINE) – Ukrainian intelligence officers successfully destroyed Russian S-300V air defense system equipment in Donbas, significantly weakening Moscow’s control over the region’s airspace. The strikes were carried out by the Active Actions Department of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense using drones.
During the operation, Ukrainian forces destroyed a 9A83 launcher from the S-300V air defense system, which had been on combat duty, as well as two 1L125 Niobium-SV radar stations. The Main Intelligence Directorate reported that such strikes reduce Russian capabilities to monitor and control the skies over Donbas, paving the way for new air operations by the Ukrainian Defence Forces.
The S-300V system, originally developed in the Soviet Union, is used by Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Venezuela. It is designed to defend critical military sites, troop formations, and administrative and industrial centres against all types of aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and ballistic threats.
The 1L125 Niobium-SV radar is a mobile, three-coordinate meter-band radar system created for the Russian army’s ground forces. It was adopted in 2016 and is intended to support air defence operations by detecting incoming aerial threats.
In a related operation, Ukrainian intelligence and the local Resistance Movement conducted an attack on the temporarily occupied Berdiansk district in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Two explosions targeted the “Akhmat” unit of Russian invaders, who were reportedly involved in the illegal sale of stolen diesel fuel.
| Location | Target | Equipment Destroyed | Impact | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donbas | Russian air defense | 9A83 launcher, 2 x 1L125 Niobium-SV radars | Reduced Russian air control | Drone strike by Ukrainian intelligence |
| Berdiansk, Zaporizhzhia Oblast | Russian invaders | N/A | Disrupted illegal fuel operations | Operation with Resistance Movement |
