Ukrainian Drone Op Takes Out Air Defense Systems Inside Russia

A “complex mission” conducted by Ukrainian special forces destroyed two Russian anti-aircraft systems in the Belgorod region on Saturday.

The Main Intelligence of Directorate (HUR) released footage of the attack on Sunday, saying it had taken out two Pantsir-S1 surface-to-air missile complexes, each one valued at around $15m.

In a post on social media, HUR said: “On January 6, 2024, another special operation… took place, aimed at weakening the aggressor state of Russia.

“As part of a complex mission implemented with the assistance of the United24 platform, the operators of ‘Group 999’ of the HUR of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine struck the positions of the Russian air defense in the territory of the Belgorod region.

“As a result of fire damage, 2 Russian anti-aircraft missile-gun complexes Pantsir-S1 were disabled.”

Video of the attack shows FPV footage of the drones approaching the target.

Russia has yet to comment on the attack.

Ukraine’s special forces have been particularly active in the Belgorod region in recent days –video released by HUR earlier this week shows what they said was a successful raid in which they planted mines on a road and engaged a platoon of Moscow’s forces in the area.

HUR said it carried out the raid in a rural section of Russia’s Belgorod region, inflicting losses on enemy forces in their own territory.

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In the video, according to the HUR, the reconnaissance team mined the only road used by Russians in the Grayvoron district of the Russian Federation.

Additionally, they attacked what they say is a Russian platoon’s fortified position using mortars and small arms.

Belgorod has also been hit by Ukrainian shelling in recent days leaving authorities at a loss as to how to react.

City authorities have urged residents to secure their windows with tape to protect them. The Kremlin has tried to maintain a semblance of normalcy on the home front, but recent deadly strikes on Belgorod have brought the Ukraine conflict closer to Russians.

“Rescuers of the Belgorod State Emergency Situations Department recommend taping windows with scotch tape,” Belgorod city hall said.

“This is a good way to protect them from the blast wave. The glass will not shatter into small fragments,” it added, sharing an infographic on how best to apply the tape.