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Ukrainian Drones Strike $50 Million Radar Used by Russia’s S-400 Air Defense Systems
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Ukrainian forces struck a Russian 96L6 radar station used by S-300 and S-400 air defense systems, targeting a key component responsible for detecting aircraft, missiles, and drones at distances of up to 300 kilometers.
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According to Ukraine’s 15th Separate Artillery Reconnaissance Brigade, known as “Black Forest,” on October 10, the radar was located, tracked, and attacked by Ukrainian drones. The brigade released footage of the operation, identifying the equipment as a 96L6 radar valued at approximately $50 million.
Знайшли та уразили РЛС 96Л6 — одну з ключових станцій виявлення у складі ЗРК С-300 і С-400 рф
— Бригада «Чорний ліс» (@15obrar) October 10, 2026
Вона виявляє повітряні цілі на всіх висотах: літаки, крилаті та балістичні ракети, БпЛА й передає координати на командні пункти та пускові.
Заявлена дальність — до 300 км.
Ціна ~$50 млн pic.twitter.com/pHSEbBciK0
The footage shows a Ukrainian reconnaissance drone following the radar station as it moved toward a deployment position near a wooded area. Once the equipment stopped and deployed, Ukrainian strike drones carried out two attacks, hitting the area around its antenna.
The 96L6 is an early-warning radar operating in the C-band frequency range. It forms part of Russia’s integrated air defense network and provides targeting information to command centers and missile launchers.
The system is designed to detect and track various aerial threats, including fighter jets, cruise and ballistic missiles, and unmanned aircraft. According to its stated specifications, it can detect targets at distances of up to 300 kilometers and simultaneously track as many as 100 objects.
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The radar can also operate alongside other detection systems, allowing Russian air defense units to coordinate surveillance and missile engagements across a wider area.
Disabling such equipment can reduce the detection capabilities of Russian air defense formations, particularly those operating S-300 and S-400 missile systems, which depend on radar data to identify and engage incoming threats.
Earlier, a Ukrainian missile strike on Russian command centers in temporarily occupied Donetsk on August 26 killed 20 Russian officers, including seven colonels and six lieutenant colonels. The attack marked the highest confirmed number of Russian officer deaths in a single strike since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
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