Ukrainian forces reportedly struck a tracked version of Russian S-400 air-defence systems in the occupied Zaporizhzhia region on 6 May 2024.
Ukraine destroyed Russian launcher 9A83M2 and launcher-loader 9A85-2 of the 9K81M2 S-300V4 (S-300V) complex in the Zaporozhye region.
Previously reported from X, formerly Twitter, indicate that Ukraine struck Russian air defenses with tactical ballistic missiles in Cape Tarkhankut, the western tip of Crimea. X account War Translate posted a screen shot of messages from “Russian channels” reporting the attack, which allegedly took place overnight on April 28, 2024.
“At night, the enemy attacked air defense system units at Cape Tarkhankut with ATACMS missiles, presumably with a cluster warhead,” a translation reads. “The enemy is trying to knock out entire air defense areas; intensified attacks are predicted against the backdrop of Kyiv’s attempts to organize information and combat actions for Victory Day and the inauguration of the Supreme Commander.”
Ukraine previously destroyed a Russian S-400 air-defense system in Cape Tarkhankut on August 23, 2023. “Given the limited number of such systems in the enemy’s arsenal, this is a painful blow to the occupiers’ air-defense system,” intelligence officials from Ukraine said in a statement seen by The Kyiv Independent.
Earlier in April 2024, Ukraine struck a large Russian airfield in Dzhankoi, Crimea. “Today, the Ukrainian armed forces carried out a precise strike on the occupiers in Dzhankoi, on an airfield,” Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video address on April 17. “Thank you, warriors. Thank you for your accuracy. Thank you to commander-in-chief [Oleksandr] Syrskyi for organizing this operation.”
That attack was the first time U.S. provided Ukrainian forces used Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) missiles. It is not yet known if the reported attack in Cape Tarkhankut used U.S.-provided weapons.
The long-range missiles were sent to Ukraine earlier this year at the request of President Joe Biden. Department of State spokesman Vedant Patel said the delivery was initially not announced publicly “to maintain operational security for Ukraine at their request”.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed to reporters this week that a “significant number” of the missiles, which can strike targets up to 185 miles away, had been provided to Ukraine.
The Pentagon originally dismissed the supply of long-range missiles over fears that Ukraine could use them to strike targets deep within Russian territory, potentially sparking an escalation to the ongoing conflict. The Biden administration had previously supplied mid-range ATACMS missiles in September 2023.
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