I don't Usually Report On Ukraine and Russia, but I found This Quite Interesting
Ukrainian “Ghosts” Drone Unit Strikes at Russia’s S-400 Air Defense in Occupied Crimea
On June 26, 2025, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate (HUR) announced that its elite drone unit, known as “The Ghosts” (Prymary), executed a precision strike against the Russian S-400 “Triumf” air defense system in Crimea, disabling five critical components of the advanced surface-to-air missile complex sofx.comkyivindependent.com. According to the official HUR statement, the operation combined both reconnaissance and strike drones to locate and engage radar and launcher assets deep within the occupied peninsula sofx.com.
The Ghosts unit reportedly targeted two 92N2E multifunctional radar control stations, two 91N6E long-range detection radars, and one missile launch vehicle of the S-400 system euromaidanpress.comkyivindependent.com. Video footage released by HUR’s Telegram channel shows small unmanned aerial vehicles approaching their designated targets with minimal warning, underscoring the asymmetric nature of the strike kyivindependent.com. HUR emphasized that these components represent the “eyes and nerve centers” of the S-400 defenses, rendering the system effectively blind and non-operational without them sofx.com.
The 92N2E radar units form part of the S-400’s fire-control network, capable of simultaneously tracking dozens of aerial targets and guiding multiple interceptors in flight, while the 91N6E radars provide panoramic early-warning coverage out to ranges of approximately 340 kilometers euromaidanpress.comen.wikipedia.org. By neutralizing these elements, Ukraine aims to create temporary corridors of reduced threat for its air operations and limit Russia’s ability to project airpower from the peninsula.
Strategically, the strike represents a continuation of Kyiv’s campaign to erode Russia’s layered air defenses in occupied territories. A senior Ukrainian defense official, speaking anonymously, framed the operation as part of a broader effort to impose cumulative costs on Russian forces, degrade their situational awareness, and force the redistribution of scarce air defense assets away from other theaters of operations sofx.com.
Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, has since been fortified as a key logistical and launching point for Moscow’s air and naval campaigns in southern Ukraine. The S-400 Triumf, introduced into Russian service in 2007 as the successor to the S-300 series, remains one of the world’s most capable long-range air defense platforms, advertised as able to engage aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic targets at altitudes up to 30 km and ranges beyond 400 km en.wikipedia.orgground.news. However, repeated drone incursions by Ukrainian forces have exposed vulnerabilities in the system’s peripheral sensors and command nodes.
As the Russo-Ukrainian conflict enters its fourth year, innovations in unmanned warfare continue to shape the battlefield. The Ghosts unit, employing both naval-launched and land-based drone assets, has executed multiple incursions against high-value targets in Crimea, signaling a shift toward precision disruption rather than indiscriminate bombardment. Such tactics allow Kyiv to strike hardened military infrastructure with relatively low cost and risk, while drawing on real-time intelligence to maximize operational impact.
Sources:
SOFX.com, “Ukrainian ‘The Ghosts’ Drone Unit Strikes S-400 System in Crimea,” June 27, 2025. https://www.sofx.com/ukrainian-the-ghosts-drone-unit-strikes-s-400-system-in-crimea/
Kyiv Independent, “Ukrainian drones strike Russian S-400 air defense system in occupied Crimea, HUR says,” June 26, 2025. https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-drones-strike-russian-s-400-air-defense-system-in-occupied-crimea-hur-says/
Euromaidan Press, “Ukraine just crippled Russia’s prized S-400 defenses with drones,” June 27, 2025. https://euromaidanpress.com/2025/06/27/ukrainian-drones-cripple-4-radars-and-1-launcher-of-russias-s-400-sam-in-occupied-crimea/
Wikipedia, “S-400 missile system,” last modified May 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-400_missile_system
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