Ukraine Destroys $500 Million in Russian Air Defense Systems, Naval Vessels and Helicopter in Crimea

Ukrainian military intelligence forces (HUR) have struck high-value Russian radar stations in temporarily occupied Crimea. The strikes also targeted air defense systems, naval vessels, and a helicopter.

On March 19, HUR reported that over several days, Ukrainian forces carried out precise strikes that left Russian air defenses helpless.

“For days, the occupiers in temporarily occupied Crimea were shaken by unprecedented explosions — their expensive air defense systems proved powerless against the skilled strikes of Ukraine’s military intelligence,” the Special Operations Forces of Ukraine wrote in a statement.

13 Russian radar systems hit, including:

• 2 × 48Ya6-K1 Podlyot radars

• 2 × 1L125 Niobium-SV systems

• 3 × 39N6 Kasta 2E2 radars

• 1 × 9S19 Imbir radar

• 1 × Nebo-SV radar

• 1 × S-300VM system

• 1 × Nebo-M radar

• 1 × 59N6-E Protivnik-GE radar

• 1 × Mys coastal radar

Additional Russian equipment damaged:

• 1 × S-300VM launcher

• Radar command posts ST-68 and Kasta 2E2

• 3 × Pantsir-S1 air defense systems

• 1 × Project C4236 tugboat

• 1 × multipurpose tug “Fyodor Uryupin”

• 1 × Mi-8 helicopter

In total, these strikes have cost Russia an estimated $537 million.

HUR stressed that these operations demonstrate not only Russia’s vulnerability in Crimea but also Ukraine’s ability to dismantle high-value targets with precision and persistence.

Earlier on March 18, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukrainian forces are conducting military operations in Russia’s Belgorod region as part of a broader strategy to disrupt Russian troop movements and prevent a new assault on Ukraine’s borders.