Ukraine hit an S-300VM SAM launcher, UAV command posts, and concentrations of Russian troops and equipment on two axes. These strikes are "part of ongoing measures to reduce the offensive potential of the Russian aggressor," says the Ukrainian General Staff.
Ukraine is actively taking advantage of a “window of opportunity” created by the Starlink shutdown for Russian forces. SpaceX blocked pirate Russian Starlink terminals starting in early February 2026, paralyzing Russian UAV operations and coordination along key axes from Pokrovsk to Lyman.
Ukrainian Armed Forces report a 70–90% drop in Russian UAV activity, enabling counterattacks and raids, while Russian troops scramble in chaos to find alternative communications.
Ukraine reaches Mariupol occupied since 2022
Key results on 17–18 February 2026:
- Trudove (Zaporizhzhia Oblast) – concentration of Russian UAV units
- Tokmak (Zaporizhzhia Oblast) – UAV maintenance workshop
- Staromlynivka (Donetsk Oblast) – communications hub
- Donetsk (Donetsk Oblast) – concentration of military equipment
- Mariupol (Donetsk Oblast) – S-300VM “Antey-2500” SAM launcher
- Salne (Kursk Oblast, Russia) and Rodynske (Donetsk Oblast) – UAV command posts
What is the S-300VM?
This SAM system is the result of the deep modernization of the Soviet S-300V and represents a new generation of Russian air defense systems, according to Militarnyi.
It is mounted on a tracked chassis and is designed to defend state, military, and industrial assets, as well as troop formations, against ballistic and aerodynamic air threats.
The S-300VM, also known as Antey-2500, includes:
- Command post
- Radar stations
- Multichannel missile guidance station
- Self-propelled launchers and missile-loading vehicles
The system uses new long-range surface-to-air guided missiles, making it a serious next-generation air defense asset.
