On the night of September 5, Ukrainian operators carried out a reconnaissance mission that led to the discovery of the advanced missile system. After visual confirmation, target data was relayed for a precision strike.
"As a result of the operation, strike drones hit one launcher and a radar station of the russian S-400 Triumph system," Ukraine's Special Operations Forces reported.
Read more: Ukraine's Defense Intelligence Reveals Components of russian UMPB D-30SN Long-Range Guided Bomb
The destroyed radar station formed a critical element of russia's air defense network. With a detection range of up to 600 kilometers, it was capable of tracking aircraft, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and other aerial threats, while coordinating with other missile systems. Its loss significantly reduces the S-400's effectiveness.
The S-400, often touted as one of russia's most capable anti-aircraft systems, relies on a mix of missiles designed to intercept targets at various altitudes and ranges. The elimination of key components makes it harder for Moscow to counter diverse and multi-vector aerial threats.
Ukraine's Special Operations Forces continue to conduct high-risk missions not only along the front but also deep inside russian-held territory, targeting valuable assets that Moscow cannot easily replace.
As Defense Express previously reported, Defense Intelligence's Prymary unit destroyed three Mi-8 multipurpose helicopters in occupied Crimea, crippling Moscow's logistics and battlefield mobility.
Most recently, on September 21, 2025, the same unit conducted a high-profile raid that resulted in the destruction of two russian Be-12 Chaika anti-submarine amphibious aircraft — marking the first-ever confirmed combat loss of this rare Soviet-era platform. Despite their age, Be-12s remain crucial to russia's Black Sea Fleet due to their specialized anti-submarine equipment, which is difficult to replace under current sanctions.
Read more: Ukrainian Drones Destroy Rare russian IMR-3M Vehicle in Combat (Video)
