Russian air defense

Russia's Moscow air defense buildup exposes rest of country to Ukrainian strikes – Zelenskyy

Russia's large-scale redeployment of air defense systems from across the country to protect Moscow's Victory Day parade has created new openings for Ukrainian long-range strikes deep inside Russian territory, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on X on May 6.

6 May, 07:10 PM

Ukraine's deep strikes on Russian cities reveal glaring gaps in Moscow's air defenses

Ukraine's sustained long-range strikes on Russian cities deep behind the front lines expose Moscow's inability to reliably protect major infrastructure from drone and missile attacks, the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in its May 5 assessment.

6 May, 11:50 AM

Putin replaces air defense commander after drone attacks expose Russian failures

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has replaced the commander of Russia’s Aerospace Forces, which oversee the country’s air and missile defense units, Russian news agency RBC reported, citing a source.

4 May, 05:11 PM

Russian air defense used outdated gear and faked reports, ex-officer says

Russia’s air defenses operated with outdated equipment, struggled to intercept even Ukrainian drones, and regularly falsified reports to appear successful, a former Russian air defense commander who fled the military said in a report published by The Insider on May 1.

2 May, 09:16 PM

Ukraine ramps up long-range strikes, overwhelming Russian air defense — ISW

Ukraine’s long-range strike campaign continues to exploit overstretched Russian air defenses, damaging oil infrastructure and military assets in Russia and occupied Crimea, the Institute for the Study of War wrote on April 26.

27 April, 11:25 AM

Russia to pay for 2024 downing of Azerbaijan Airlines plane

Russia has agreed to pay compensation to victims and the families of those killed when an Azerbaijan Airlines plane was shot down by Russian air defenses in late 2024, Russian and Azeri foreign ministries said in a joint statement on April 15.

15 April, 11:05 PM

Ukrainian drones destroy ninth Russian air defense system in nine days of April

Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces have destroyed nine Russian surface-to-air missile systems in the first nine days of April, including a Tor-M1 complex in temporarily occupied territory of Donetsk Oblast on April 9, commander Lt. Gen. Robert “Magyar” Brovdi reported.

9 April, 03:05 PM

Russian air defense command in Crimea faces possible reshuffle after heavy losses

Russian commanders responsible for air defense in occupied Crimea could face dismissal after repeated losses of air defense systems, Ukrainian partisan movement Atesh reported on March 10.

10 March, 01:20 PM

Russia claims more than 750 drones intercepted in large-scale overnight attack

Russia’s Defense Ministry said its air defenses shot down 754 drones launched from Ukraine over the past 24 hours, in what Ukrainian outlet Militarnyi described as the largest drone attack yet recorded against Russia and occupied Crimea.

9 March, 06:59 PM

Russian missile strikes residential high-rise in Krasnodar Krai

Russian air defense missile struck a residential apartment building in the settlement of Afipsky in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai, ASTRA Telegram channel reported on Jan. 21.

21 January, 09:00 AM

Ukraine hits Russian oil depots and command posts in overnight strikes — General Staff

Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck dozens of military and logistical targets inside Russia and in occupied Ukrainian territories overnight on Nov. 13, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported.

13 November 2025, 03:36 PM

Ukraine's Flamingo missile chief designer confirms combat use

The chief designer of Ukraine's new Flamingo cruise missile confirmed its combat use and touted its ability to evade detection during low-altitude flights in an interview with Radio NV on Oct. 20.

21 October 2025, 06:32 PM

Sochi among seven Russian airports forced to halt flights overnight

Flights were temporarily suspended at seven Russian airports overnight on Oct. 18, including in Sochi, where 27 flights were delayed, Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia), state media, and local authorities reported.

18 October 2025, 10:39 AM

Russia cannot defend Kacha airfield in occupied Crimea

The Ukrainian Ghosts special forces’ repeated drone strikes on the Russian Kacha military airfield highlight Russia’s inability to protect its military assets in the temporarily occupied Crimean Peninsula, Defense Express reported on Sept. 25.

25 September 2025, 12:38 PM

Moscow airports shut down after drone strike

A wave of drones targeted Moscow and the surrounding region overnight on July 20, causing explosions in the city of Zelenograd and temporarily shutting down the Russian capital’s airports, according to Russian media and officials.

20 July 2025, 10:39 AM

Satellite images show fire, destruction at Russian airfield in Crimea

Drones targeted the Kirovske airbase in Russian-occupied Crimea overnight on June 28, reportedly destroying an ammunition depot and air defense assets, according to the Crimean Wind monitoring group, which cited satellite imagery.

28 June 2025, 12:12 PM

Ukraine’s new Sapsan missile may outmaneuver Russian air defense

Ukraine’s domestically produced Sapsan ballistic missile may prove too advanced for Russian air defense systems to intercept, said Anatoliy Khrapchynskyi, deputy general director of a Ukrainian electronic warfare company and a former Air Force officer, in an interview with Radio NV.

24 June 2025, 12:45 PM

Oil depot flashes reported after drone strike on Russian city

The Russian city of Oryol came under drone attack overnight on June 16, with local residents reporting a series of loud explosions, according to regional Telegram channels.

16 June 2025, 10:59 AM

Three Russian Buk missile systems destroyed by Ukraine in 12-hour operation

Ukrainian drone operators have destroyed three Russian Buk surface-to-air missile systems in a 12-hour operation in Russia’s Kursk region, Ukraine’s Drone Systems Forces reported on Monday, April 7.

7 April 2025, 12:25 PM

Seven Russian airports halt operations amid widespread drone strikes

Seven Russian cities temporarily shut down their airports on Feb. 15, activating the "Kovikovyor or" emergency plan, as authorities in four regions reported drone attacks.

15 February 2025, 10:15 AM

Russian air defense

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