Ukraine destroyed five installations of Russian S-400 missile systems

Russia has already lost more than 12 thousand pieces of military equipment in the war with Ukraine. Among them are at least five S-400 launchers, the main anti-aircraft missile systems of the Russian Aerospace Forces. Two of them were destroyed in Crimea over the past month.

Source. This was reported by Newsweek.

According to the Oryx website, which takes into account documented losses during the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, five transport-launchers (each with four missile containers) were destroyed, as well as several pieces of other equipment, including a control center, radar, and a support vehicle.

Recently, Ukraine has begun to increasingly strike at military facilities in Crimea, using air and sea drones and missiles. Two S-400 batteries were attacked in late August and September – on Cape Tarkhankut and near Yevpatoriya.

The destruction of such air defense systems is important for two reasons, military expert David Hambling told Newsweek. First, "everyone used to think the S-400s worked well, but now they seem vulnerable"; second, their destruction "pokes holes in air defenses that can be exploited."

The SBU commented to the BBC that the drones first hit the S-400's "eyes" and then struck with Neptune cruise missiles, which allowed them to "open up" the air defense system.

Through the "holes" that appeared in it, the naval base in Sevastopol could be attacked: on September 13, a ship and a submarine were damaged, apparently with the help of Storm Shadow missiles.

The loss of some of the S-400 systems has made Russian targets in Crimea more vulnerable to strikes from these missiles, which Ukraine received from Britain, according to Gambling.

Background. As a reminder, on September 21, the SBU and the Ukrainian Navy attacked the Saki military airfield in Crimea. The airfield had at least 12 combat aircraft and a drone operator training base.