Ukrainian attack drones struck an S-400 Triumph air defense system in Russia’s Kaluga Region, destroying a missile launcher and its attendant radar unit, Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces (SSO) reported on 22 September.
The SSO wrote that they identified the missile system during a reconnaissance mission, got visual confirmation, and were cleared to fire on the target during the overnight operation on 5 September.
Open-source intelligence from the monitoring community Oko Gora placed the target between 150 and 250 kilometers from Ukraine's border, United 24 reported.
This is the latest in a series of successful attacks on Russia’s S-400 installations in occupied Crimea and Russian territory.
Special forces also reported destroying components of S-400 systems in occupied Crimea in late August and late June, taking down multiple radar components and one launcher.
In January, the Ukrainian General Staff reported destroying S-400 radar equipment in Russia's Belgorod oblast. Similar strikes picking Russia’s S-400s apart were also reported in the preceding years.
The S-400 Triumph is Russia’s most advanced air defense missile system. It is reportedly able to track and destroy aircraft, missiles, and drones hundreds of kilometers away. A single battery, consisting of multiple launchers and their loading and targeting vehicles, is estimated to cost $1.2 billion.
Military experts speaking to the Kyiv Independent in September 2023 said that while capable, S-400s are vulnerable to stand-off and stand-in jamming and may be confused by small, slow-moving targets like drones. To operate safely, the system needs to be layered with short- to medium-range air defenses.
Ukrainian special forces also criticized Russia's organizational doctrine when deploying the systems.
