Ukrainian Drone Strike in Crimea Destroys Rare S-500 Air Defence Yenisei Radar in Major Blow to Russia
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
On August 7, 2025, Ukrainian forces reportedly destroyed one of Russia’s rarest and most advanced air defence radars, a 98L6 Yenisei unit tied to the S-500 “Prometey” system, in a precision strike deep inside occupied Crimea. The operation, as reported by pro-Ukrainian intelligence analysts site CyberBoroshno, targeted a critical component of Russia’s layered air defence network. The loss marks one of the first documented battlefield eliminations of S-500-linked equipment, potentially altering the operational balance in the Black Sea theatre. Coming days before the planned August 15 Russian-US meeting in Alaska, the incident has strategic resonance far beyond the peninsula.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The elimination of the Yenisei in Crimea is both a tactical and psychological setback for Moscow. It deprives Russian forces of an advanced detection platform at a time when Kyiv is intensifying precision strikes against high-value targets, and it sends a clear message that even the most modern and guarded assets are not beyond reach (Picture source: Ukrainian Defence Intelligence Directorate GUR)
The 98L6 Yenisei radar, considered the “eyes” of the S-500, represents one of the most sophisticated mobile air surveillance systems in Russian service. It uses a multi-element active electronically scanned array (AESA) optimised to resist jamming and can detect both aerodynamic and ballistic targets at distances up to 600 km and altitudes up to 100 km. Mounted on a four-axle MZKT chassis, the radar can operate in 360-degree wide-area surveillance or focus on narrow sectors to enhance ballistic missile detection. It is the standard radar for the S-500, but can also be integrated with S-400 Triumf systems, making it a highly versatile asset in Russia’s integrated air defence structure.
The S-500 “Prometey” itself entered service in April 2021 following protracted trials between 2020 and 2021, having been delayed more than five years from initial schedules. Designed to intercept hypersonic weapons, intercontinental ballistic missiles, and even low-orbit satellites, the system was deployed to Crimea in June 2024 to defend critical infrastructure such as the Kerch Bridge against long-range Ukrainian strikes, including US-supplied ATACMS missiles. Russian Aerospace Forces only formed their first full S-500 regiment in December 2024, with production numbers still low. This scarcity makes the Yenisei’s loss operationally significant, particularly in an active combat zone where replacement is complex and slow.
According to footage released by Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence Directorate (GUR), the strike was carried out by the special forces unit “Prymary” using a precision-guided drone system. The radar, positioned in an open area in southern Crimea, was later identified by CyberBoroshno analysts as a Yenisei rather than the older 96L6 variant. The ability of Ukrainian drones to penetrate defended airspace and destroy such a high-value, well-protected target reflects Kyiv’s evolving doctrine of striking “nerve centres” in Russia’s detection network rather than solely missile launchers. This approach not only reduces immediate threat detection but also compels Russia to redeploy scarce assets farther from the front, creating lasting gaps in coverage.
Strategically, the Yenisei’s destruction leaves a hole in Russia’s Crimean air defence architecture, reducing its ability to detect and respond to incoming strikes in time. Given the radar’s dual role in supporting both S-500 and S-400 systems, the loss impacts ballistic missile defence, long-range air surveillance, and the protection of strategic targets such as naval bases and logistic hubs. With Russia already under strain from the loss of several A-50U airborne early warning aircraft and other ground-based radars, each high-end system eliminated compounds operational vulnerabilities. In the broader geopolitical context, Ukraine’s ability to remove such a symbol of Russian technological prestige could influence perceptions ahead of the Alaska talks, demonstrating Kyiv’s capacity to strike deep and challenge Russia’s most advanced defences despite ongoing high-level diplomacy.
The elimination of the Yenisei in Crimea is both a tactical and psychological setback for Moscow. It deprives Russian forces of an advanced detection platform at a time when Kyiv is intensifying precision strikes against high-value targets, and it sends a clear message that even the most modern and guarded assets are not beyond reach. For Ukraine, it validates a strategic approach centred on dismantling the opponent’s situational awareness layer by layer, shaping conditions for future operations and potentially shifting the risk calculus in Russia’s own defence planning.
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
On August 7, 2025, Ukrainian forces reportedly destroyed one of Russia’s rarest and most advanced air defence radars, a 98L6 Yenisei unit tied to the S-500 “Prometey” system, in a precision strike deep inside occupied Crimea. The operation, as reported by pro-Ukrainian intelligence analysts site CyberBoroshno, targeted a critical component of Russia’s layered air defence network. The loss marks one of the first documented battlefield eliminations of S-500-linked equipment, potentially altering the operational balance in the Black Sea theatre. Coming days before the planned August 15 Russian-US meeting in Alaska, the incident has strategic resonance far beyond the peninsula.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The elimination of the Yenisei in Crimea is both a tactical and psychological setback for Moscow. It deprives Russian forces of an advanced detection platform at a time when Kyiv is intensifying precision strikes against high-value targets, and it sends a clear message that even the most modern and guarded assets are not beyond reach (Picture source: Ukrainian Defence Intelligence Directorate GUR)
The 98L6 Yenisei radar, considered the “eyes” of the S-500, represents one of the most sophisticated mobile air surveillance systems in Russian service. It uses a multi-element active electronically scanned array (AESA) optimised to resist jamming and can detect both aerodynamic and ballistic targets at distances up to 600 km and altitudes up to 100 km. Mounted on a four-axle MZKT chassis, the radar can operate in 360-degree wide-area surveillance or focus on narrow sectors to enhance ballistic missile detection. It is the standard radar for the S-500, but can also be integrated with S-400 Triumf systems, making it a highly versatile asset in Russia’s integrated air defence structure.
The S-500 “Prometey” itself entered service in April 2021 following protracted trials between 2020 and 2021, having been delayed more than five years from initial schedules. Designed to intercept hypersonic weapons, intercontinental ballistic missiles, and even low-orbit satellites, the system was deployed to Crimea in June 2024 to defend critical infrastructure such as the Kerch Bridge against long-range Ukrainian strikes, including US-supplied ATACMS missiles. Russian Aerospace Forces only formed their first full S-500 regiment in December 2024, with production numbers still low. This scarcity makes the Yenisei’s loss operationally significant, particularly in an active combat zone where replacement is complex and slow.
According to footage released by Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence Directorate (GUR), the strike was carried out by the special forces unit “Prymary” using a precision-guided drone system. The radar, positioned in an open area in southern Crimea, was later identified by CyberBoroshno analysts as a Yenisei rather than the older 96L6 variant. The ability of Ukrainian drones to penetrate defended airspace and destroy such a high-value, well-protected target reflects Kyiv’s evolving doctrine of striking “nerve centres” in Russia’s detection network rather than solely missile launchers. This approach not only reduces immediate threat detection but also compels Russia to redeploy scarce assets farther from the front, creating lasting gaps in coverage.
Strategically, the Yenisei’s destruction leaves a hole in Russia’s Crimean air defence architecture, reducing its ability to detect and respond to incoming strikes in time. Given the radar’s dual role in supporting both S-500 and S-400 systems, the loss impacts ballistic missile defence, long-range air surveillance, and the protection of strategic targets such as naval bases and logistic hubs. With Russia already under strain from the loss of several A-50U airborne early warning aircraft and other ground-based radars, each high-end system eliminated compounds operational vulnerabilities. In the broader geopolitical context, Ukraine’s ability to remove such a symbol of Russian technological prestige could influence perceptions ahead of the Alaska talks, demonstrating Kyiv’s capacity to strike deep and challenge Russia’s most advanced defences despite ongoing high-level diplomacy.
The elimination of the Yenisei in Crimea is both a tactical and psychological setback for Moscow. It deprives Russian forces of an advanced detection platform at a time when Kyiv is intensifying precision strikes against high-value targets, and it sends a clear message that even the most modern and guarded assets are not beyond reach. For Ukraine, it validates a strategic approach centred on dismantling the opponent’s situational awareness layer by layer, shaping conditions for future operations and potentially shifting the risk calculus in Russia’s own defence planning.
