Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces have carried out a coordinated strike against three russian Tor surface-to-air missile systems in the temporarily occupied part of Zaporizhzhia region, marking another focused effort to dismantle enemy air defenses. The operation was confirmed by Major Robert Madyar Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, who described the mission as a methodical targeting of critical components of russia's air defense network.
According to Robert Brovdi, the three Tor systems were destroyed simultaneously in a single, coordinated operation. The strike was conducted by drone operators from the 1st Separate Center of the Unmanned Systems Forces under the coordination of the newly established Middle Strike Coordination Center. The emphasis on simultaneity suggests a deliberate attempt to overwhelm or bypass layered defensive measures.
Read more: Ukraine Destroys 3 2S7 Pion Guns, 1 TOS-1A Solntsepyok System and 7 AFVs in Deep Luhansk Strike (Video)
The weapon reportedly used in the attack was the FP-2 UAV, equipped with a 60-kilogram warhead. Robert Brovdi stressed that such a payload leaves "no chance" for lightly armored air defense systems like Tor. Designed as a short-range surface-to-air missile system, Tor system is typically deployed to protect frontline units and critical assets from aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and drones. Its destruction directly weakens the enemy's immediate protective umbrella.
The financial impact of the strike is also notable. Robert Brovdi estimated the losses at approximately $75 million in a single night, reflecting the high cost of modern air defense systems. While monetary damage is significant, he underlined that the primary objective was not financial attrition but the degradation of russia's close-range air defense echelon, a layer that consistently complicates Ukrainian aerial operations.
Targeting short- and medium-range air defense systems has become a strategic priority for Ukraine. By systematically eliminating these assets, Ukrainian forces create more permissive conditions for reconnaissance drones, strike UAVs, and potentially other long-range precision capabilities. Removing Tor systems in particular opens corridors for sustained drone activity in contested airspace.
As Defense Express previously reported, operators of Ukraine's Yastruby 411th Unmanned Systems Regiment have struck multiple russian tanks and armored personnel carriers during fighting on a key frontline direction. Footage of the combat work was released on February 19 via the regiment's official channel.
Read more: Ukrainian 411th Drone Regiment Destroys Tanks and APCs in Failed Mechanized Push (Video)
