Ukrainian drones strike deep into Belgorod, wiping out Russia’s prized S-400 launchers (VIDEO, MAP)

2025-12-18 15:22 4 min

Ukrainian drone operators destroyed two Russian S-400 Triumf missile launchers and their ammunition in Russia’s Belgorod Oblast, according to Ukraine’s General Staff. The strike, conducted by the 15th Separate Artillery Reconnaissance Brigade, was filmed and took place on 14 December.

Such drone strikes by Ukrainian forces are part of a broader effort to degrade Russia’s air defenses both within Russian territory and in occupied areas. The S-400 Triumf air defense system is a modernized successor to the Soviet-Russian S-300 and serves as a vital component of Russia’s layered air defense network. Russia also sometimes uses the system in its secondary ground-attack role, targeting Ukrainian cities. Its destruction by Ukrainian drones is considered a major loss for the invading forces, given the system’s strategic role. Ukrainian drones destroy S-400s in Russia's region, adjacent to Ukraine's northeast

On 18 December, the General Staff of Ukraine confirmed the destruction of two Russian S-400 air defense launchers in Belgorod Oblast. According to the military, the attack was carried out by operators from the 15th Separate Artillery Reconnaissance Brigade "Chornyi Lis" (Black Forest). They used strike drones to hit a position of Russia’s 568th Air Defense Missile Regiment near the village of Raevka.

The military published a video of the operation. Militarnyi reports that the S-400 launchers were destroyed during this movement phase. The shared footage shows Russian air defense vehicles moving along a dirt road, reportedly during a change of combat position.

The footage was analyzed by open-source intelligence researcher @moklasen on X. His assessment placed the drone strike near Verkhny Olshanets, a village roughly 50 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

Telegram channel Dosye Shpiona earlier reported that the drone strike occurred at around 4:30 p.m., targeting a convoy of Russian S-400 systems "on a march" in Belgorod Oblast. Six drones reportedly destroyed one 5P85SM2-01 launcher and damaged another of the same model.

Dosye Shpiona says an impact caused a detonation that destroyed four 48N6DM guided anti-aircraft missiles stored in transport-launch containers. The channel, however, noticed that "There are no personnel casualties."