New Delhi: A Ukrainian drone operator, generally known as ‘Shadow’, has shared an inside account of a daring mission that introduced down a Russian S‑400 air protection system. This operation, centered in Kursk Oblast close to Bolshoe Zhorovo, befell in a single day on November 22‑23, final 12 months.
‘Shadow’ joined the mission after satellite tv for pc photographs pinpointed the S‑400’s location. It used drones and human intelligence to trace S‑400 technicians from Almaz-Antey who had been repairing the radar and missile launcher. ‘Shadow’ says these parts weren’t in full working order but.
Drone surveillance crews positioned themselves roughly 80 kilometres away. They monitored the system, radar items, missile launchers and close by gasoline vans whereas digital warfare methods like Krasukha‑4 and Repellent‑1 jammed GPS indicators.
In response, the workforce deployed decoy drones emitting false GPS indicators to confuse these Russian jammers.
That night, round 9:45 pm, three ATACMS missiles had been launched from HIMARS methods. Shadow says the primary missile destroyed the radar, the second hit the launcher and the third struck the ammunition depot.
The explosion marked a significant success. Shadow remembers the second as certainly one of profound aid, stating the S‑400 posed an actual menace to Ukrainian cities.
The mission confronted excessive threat. GPS jammers threatened missile navigation. Restore crews had been in place. Success was removed from assured. However the strike labored. The S‑400 was destroyed.
Ukraine’s navy had initially introduced the S‑400 hit with missile strikes again in late November. Now with Shadow’s account, the complete image is rising.
Analysts in Kyiv see the operation as proof that even Russia’s most superior methods may be susceptible.
In Moscow, official response was muted. The protection ministry confirmed the assault however denied the S‑400 was destroyed. Russian navy bloggers referred to as out their very own intelligence and logistics failures.
The mission exhibits how Ukraine has mixed correct satellite tv for pc knowledge, drone management, human intelligence and superior missile methods to outsmart its enemy. The goal might need been below restore however its affect stays highly effective. Ukraine turned a silent Russian image right into a smoking destroy.