The Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian S-400 air defense system in Crimea in an operation involving drones and cruise missiles.
The system, valued at $1.2 billion, was eliminated, according to Ukrainian media reports citing sources from the Ukrainian Security Service (SSU).
The operation began with SSU drones targeting the complex’s critical components, such as radars and antennas. Once the radar stations were disabled, the Navy unit proceeded to strike the S-300/400 Triumph launch systems using two Neptune cruise missiles.
According to the open-source intelligence site Oryx, Moscow’s military has lost just three S-400 launchers and one command post for the system so far. This will be the third such system destroyed in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.