Ukrainian forces wipe out six Russian air defense systems in 48 hours

According to the commander, over two days, Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces carried out a series of successful strikes against Russian air defenses deep in the rear of the occupied parts of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.

Within 48 hours, six units of surface-to-air missile systems and radar stations were destroyed. These assets formed the backbone of the enemy’s so-called layered air defense.

Brovdi said the strikes were carried out deep behind enemy lines, at distances ranging from 46 to 160 kilometers from the frontline. Warheads weighing more than 10 kilograms ensured the complete destruction of the equipment, leaving no chance for it to be restored to combat readiness.

Several types of high-value equipment were hit, including:

• A Tor air defense system and a Vityaz 50N6E radar in the Mariupol district;

• Two Buk systems, including a Buk-M1, in the Volnovakha and Polohy districts;

• A Strela-10 system and the newer Tor-M2 in the Zaporizhzhia direction.

The operation was carried out by crews of the 412th Unmanned Systems Brigade Nemesis in coordination with the newly established Deep Strike Center of the Unmanned Systems Forces grouping. Crews from the 413th Unmanned Systems Regiment Raid also took part in the destruction of one of the Strela-10 systems.

According to the command, striking these targets will significantly weaken the Russian army’s ability to protect its troops, logistics, and command posts in the rear. The success of the operation also opens up new opportunities for offensive strikes against the enemy’s critical military infrastructure.

"Madyar" emphasized that the effectiveness of the Unmanned Systems Forces continues to grow, and that the ability of Ukrainian drone units to operate deep behind the frontline is a key factor in undermining the enemy’s defensive capabilities.

Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces disrupted a Russian offensive in the Donetsk direction.

In addition, on the night of January 13, the Unmanned Systems Forces struck energy facilities in occupied Mariupol in the Donetsk region and destroyed an ammunition depot in Makiivka.

Earlier, on January 1, the Unmanned Systems Forces destroyed two high-value Russian air defense systems — a TOR tactical surface-to-air missile system and a 50N6E radar of the S-350 Vityaz air defense complex.