Ukraine Destroys Rare Russian R-330Zh Zhitel System Built To Jam Drones And Comms

Ukrainian forces have destroyed a Russian R-330Zh “Zhitel” electronic warfare system in the temporarily occupied part of the Luhansk region.

According to the commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces (SBS), Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, the system was detected by SBS units, which then directed Ukrainian artillery to strike the target on March 7.

The operation reportedly involved personnel from the 1st Separate Center of the Unmanned Systems Forces, while the strike itself was carried out by an artillery unit operating within the “East” operational grouping of Ukrainian forces.

The Russian electronic warfare platform had been positioned near defensive fortifications that included “dragon’s teeth” anti-tank obstacles. This suggests the system may have been deployed to help protect sections of the Russian defensive line or infrastructure near the border in the occupied region.

The detonation observed after the strike indicates the equipment and its crew were likely destroyed.

The R-330Zh “Zhitel” is a mobile electronic warfare system designed to detect, intercept, and jam various communication signals. The platform can disrupt satellite communications, cellular networks, and radio transmissions, making it a tool used by Russian forces to interfere with drone operations and command-and-control systems.

The system is typically mounted on a KamAZ military truck and can operate either independently or as part of a broader electronic warfare network. Its onboard equipment allows operators to locate signal sources, including satellite communication terminals, mobile network towers, or drone control stations.

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Technical estimates suggest the Zhitel system can disrupt communications across a radius of up to roughly 30 kilometers under favorable conditions. It is designed to jam signals used by GPS navigation as well as satellite networks such as Inmarsat and Thuraya, in addition to GSM cellular communications.

The R-330Zh is considered a relatively rare and costly target on the battlefield. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, only 24 confirmed losses of Zhitel systems have been visually documented.

Earlier, Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck a Russian Pantsir-S1 air defense system and a BK-16 high-speed assault boat near the settlement of Novoozerne in occupied Crimea, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The strikes were part of a broader operation targeting Russian drone command centers, air defense assets, and military infrastructure across occupied territories and Russia’s Belgorod region.

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