The Special Operations Forces (SSO) of the Ukrainian Armed Forces struck Russia's S-400 Triumf air defense system and destroyed a Pantsir-S1 short-range air defense system in occupied Crimea overnight on 25 February, the SSO reported. The strike hit multiple components of the air defense node near Sofiivka, continuing a systematic campaign against Russian anti-air assets.
SSO confirms multi-component kill near Sofiivka
The SSO's middle-strike units struck enemy air defense positions in temporarily occupied Crimea in the early hours of 25 February. The confirmed results include the destruction of an S-400 launcher, a 92N6E radar station, and auxiliary elements of the S-400 system. The 92N6E radar serves as the "eyes" of the S-400, providing target tracking and engagement guidance for the entire battery. Without it, the remaining components of the system lose combat capability. The S-400 is long-range surface-to-air and anti-ballistic missile system.
The SSO also destroyed the Pantsir-S1 medium-range anti-air system, which was specifically deployed to protect the air defenses from drones.
"The Pantsir-S1, which covered important objects and enemy air defense positions from drones and missiles at low and medium altitudes, also ceased to exist," the SSO wrote.
The SSO said its special operations forces "continue to carry out asymmetric actions aimed at reducing Russia's offensive potential."
Occupied Crimea has two villages named Sofiivka — one in the Feodosiia district in the peninsula's east, another near the regional capital of Simferopol in central Crimea. Ukrainian monitoring Telegram channel Krymsky Veter (Crimean Wind) suggests the attack took place near Simferopol:
"This likely refers to the village of Sofiivka near the settlement of Hvardiiske, where a series of explosions were heard last night and a glow was visible."
Another node down in Ukraine's air defense dismantling campaign
The strike is part of a broader effort by multiple Ukrainian formations — the SSO, HUR military intelligence, the SBU security service, and the army's SBS drone forces — to systematically dismantle Russia's layered air defense across occupied Crimea and southeastern Ukraine.
Russian air defense assets have remained among Ukraine's priority targets for several years. The most recent strikes include:
- On 24 February, the SBS struck a Pantsir-S1 and a Malachit radar in Crimea, a Buk-M1 in Donetsk Oblast.
- On 22 February, the SBS destroyed two Tor air defense systems near Donetsk city.
- On 21 February, Ukrainian forces hit two patrol ships and two aircraft in Crimea.
- On 18 February, Ukraine struck an S-300VM Antey-2500 launcher near Mariupol in occupied Donetsk Oblast — a next-generation air defense system.
- On 16 February, HUR's Prymary unit confirmed destroying a Pantsir-S1, a Nebo-U radar, and a BK-16 landing craft in Crimea.
- On 15 February, the General Staff reported the destruction of a Pantsir-S1 near Kacha in Crimea. The same day, the SBU reported its Alpha unit destroyed roughly half of Russia's Pantsir fleet in 2025, estimating total losses at $4 bn.
- On 12 February, Ukraine struck a $100 mn Nebo-U long-range radar near Yevpatoriia in occupied Crimea, the General Staff reported.
Earlier strikes on S-400 components in Crimea have targeted radars, launchers, and auxiliary equipment near Yevpatoriia, Cape Tarkhankut, Belbek airbase, and other military sites. The previous losses have forced Russia to seek the return of S-400 systems previously sold to Türkiye and to postpone deliveries of similar systems to India until 2026-2027.
