In a dramatic development, Ukraine reportedly struck Russia’s state-of-the-art $600 million S-500 missile defense system using ATACMS missiles. This marks a significant moment in the conflict, showcasing Ukraine’s growing military capabilities and tactical boldness. If confirmed, this strike could represent a major setback for Russia, highlighting vulnerabilities in its advanced defense technology. The incident underscores the escalating tensions and the evolving nature of modern warfare between the two nations.
On the afternoon of Friday, June 28, posts appeared on pro-Ukraine Telegram and X accounts claiming that an S-500 anti-missile complex had been hit with cluster-munition-filled ATACMS missiles.
The bloggers couldn’t agree on whether one or more of the system’s pieces, such as missiles, launchers, or related radar, had been hit.
The Ukrainian military blogger “Military News” stated on X that the entire complex worth $600 million was damaged in the attack, while NOELREPORTS cited a report from Ukraine’s TIVAZ artillery formation.
The Ukrainian Telegram channels Tsapilenko-Ukraine Fights and Bayraktar also mentioned claims that the system had been damaged, but the latter indicated confirmation was still pending.
Petro Andryushchenko, Mariupol’s mayor’s adviser, also confirmed the damage on Telegram, but added, “We are waiting for pictures from the satellite… because certain parts of the S-500 and S-400 are similar.” But, even if it’s the S-400, it’s fantastic!”
The Armed Forces reportedly destroyed Russia’s latest S-500 air defense system. One of them can cost up to $600 million.
By early evening, international mainstream media had caught up on the stories. Newsweek reported Tsapilenko’s social media post but stated that it could not independently verify the claim but had contacted Russian and Ukrainian authorities for comment, which had not been received as of publication.
The Ukrainian news website Ukrainian National News (UNN) reported a serious fire at a probable Russian air defense station on the Dzhankoy airfield in occupied Crimea, citing the Crimean Wind monitoring group, which had uploaded a satellite photograph of the blaze. It speculated that this could be linked to the S-500 attack because it occurred near areas where an S-400 system had previously been destroyed.
Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s defense intelligence agency (HUR), stated on June 15 that Russian forces had deployed at least a portion of their latest S-500 anti-missile system to Crimea to compensate for the number of S-300 and S-400 systems destroyed by Ukrainian troops.
According to Budanov, the S-500 was likely stationed in Russian-occupied Crimea to protect the Kerch Bridge, which connects the peninsula to mainland Russia. Not only does the bridge serve as an important supply route, but it also holds a high prestige value for President Vladimir Putin.
The S-500 anti-missile complex, also known as the Prometey (Prometheus) or 55R6M Triumfator-M, is a next-generation Russian surface-to-air missile system that has taken over a decade to enter service. It is intended to defend key infrastructure and military assets from a variety of aerial threats, such as aircraft, drones, ballistic and cruise missiles.
It is reported to have a response time of less than 4 seconds, which is more than half that of the S-400 Triumf, as well as a ballistic missile range of 600 kilometers (370 miles) and an air defense range of 500 kilometers (310 miles). Almaz-Antey claims it was designed to detect and engage up to ten ballistic hypersonic objects at 7,000 meters (4.3 miles) per second at altitudes greater than 180 kilometers (110 miles). They also claim it can engage low-Earth orbit satellites and missile platforms.
The S-500 is made up of multiple different but linked components, including 77P6 launch vehicles, 55K6MA and 85Zh6-2 command posts, the 91N6A(M) acquisition and battle management radar, the 96L6-TsP acquisition radar, and the 76T6 multimode and 77T6 ABM engagement radars. All pieces are mounted on BAZ multi-wheeled vehicles or trailers.
If destruction is confirmed, it will deal another severe damage to Russia’s military prestige and capability.
On June 23, 2024, Russia claimed to have intercepted five U.S.-supplied missiles aimed at Sevastopol, with one falling and causing civilian casualties. However, GreatGameIndia analysts suggest these missiles targeted critical military sites rather than the beach where debris caused deaths and injuries. The incident has sparked a debate over the role of international military cooperation, implicating U.S. drones and Italian bases in the strikes. This highlights the escalating complexity of modern warfare and the significant implications for global military alliances, as advanced defense systems are now a critical component in this high-stakes conflict.
