Ukraine’s Drone Forces Burn Through $131 Million Worth of Russian Air Defenses in One Week

Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces said their operators struck several high-value Russian air defense assets over the past week, including advanced missile systems and radar stations collectively worth more than $131 million.

According to the command of the Unmanned Systems Forces of Ukraine on May 11, the strikes successfully targeted a Buk-M3, a Tor-M2, a 2S6 Tunguska, and a Kasta-2E2 radar station.

“These are part of the systematic exhaustion of the enemy’s capabilities, where every precise strike reduces its combat potential and limits its ability to wage war,” the Ukrainian command stated.

The destruction of systems such as the Buk-M3 and Tor-M2 represents a significant operational setback for Russian forces, as both are key elements of Moscow’s layered air defense architecture used extensively to counter Ukrainian drones, aircraft, and cruise missiles.

The Buk-M3, introduced into Russian service in 2016, is capable of engaging aerial targets at ranges of up to 70 kilometers and altitudes reaching 35,000 meters. Open-source estimates place the cost of a single launcher between $40 million and $50 million.

The Tor-M2, meanwhile, is specifically designed to intercept low-flying threats, including UAVs and cruise missiles, making it one of the primary systems deployed to shield Russian positions from Ukrainian drone attacks.

Read more

Category

War in Ukraine

Ukraine Is Turning Russia’s Air Defense Into “Swiss Cheese.” What’s Next?

Apr 07, 2026 10:27

Ukraine’s drone operators also struck a Tunguska self-propelled anti-aircraft system. The hybrid platform combines rapid-fire 30 mm cannons with surface-to-air missiles, allowing it to engage aircraft, helicopters, and drones while moving with armored formations.

The Kasta-2E2 radar targeted during the operation is used for low-altitude airspace surveillance and detection of aerial threats flying close to the terrain, including drones and cruise missiles.

Previously, Ukrainian drone operators destroyed a Buk-M3 surface-to-air missile system, one of the most advanced elements of Russia’s layered air defense network, in a precision strike deep in the temporarily occupied Luhansk region of Ukraine.

Protect Ukrainian Skies

Subscribe to Sky Defense