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Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces Knock Out $100 Million Worth of Russian Air Defenses in April

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Maryna_kulakova
Maryna Kulakova
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Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces Knock Out $100 Million Worth of Russian Air Defenses in April
Russian Buk-M1-2 air defense system in 2010. (Source: Wikipedia)

The 14th Separate Unmanned Aerial Vehicle  Regiment , in coordination with the 15th “Black Forest” Artillery Reconnaissance Brigade, successfully identified and struck multiple Russian air defense targets deep behind enemy lines last month.

According to Ukraine’s Drone Systems Command, the units destroyed a Buk-M3 surface-to-air missile (SAM) system and a command-and-control vehicle belonging to a Russian SAM battalion. They also struck a Tor short-range air defense system and a modified S-300 medium-range SAM system.

Each of these systems represents a significant part of Russia’s layered air defense. The Tor, used for short-range protection against drones and precision munitions, is estimated to cost between $25 and $30 million.

The Buk-M3, designed to counter aircraft and cruise missiles up to 70 kilometers away, is valued at approximately $20–25 million, and the S-300, capable of intercepting ballistic missiles and aircraft at distances up to 250 kilometers, ranges in cost from $10–20 million depending on the variant.

Also destroyed was a command-and-control vehicle for a Russian air defense unit—an armored mobile center used for battlefield coordination and communications—worth between $10 and $25 million.

In total, the combined value of the eliminated and damaged equipment is estimated between $65 and $100 million.

The strikes were carried out using Ukrainian-made attack drones equipped with target acquisition and auto-guidance systems. The Unmanned Systems Forces emphasized that the 14th Regiment continues to adapt and innovate to find effective solutions against any target.

Earlier, Ukrainian drone operators scored a double hit on the Lyman front, destroying a Russian T-72B3 tank and its nearby ammunition dump with a single FPV strike, according to a video released by the “SIGNUM” battalion of Ukraine’s 53rd Mechanized Brigade on May 19.

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The 14th Separate Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Regiment is the only known military unit operating across nearly the full range of UAV platforms. It carries out both tactical strikes and deep operations behind enemy lines.

The 14th Separate Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Regiment is the only known military unit operating across nearly the full range of UAV platforms. It carries out both tactical strikes and deep operations behind enemy lines.