Kyiv, Ukraine:

As top diplomats from the US and Russia arrived in Saudi Arabia for a meeting on the years-long war in Ukraine, Moscow was dealt a severe blow in the battlefield. Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence released a video in which it claimed that it has destroyed Russia’s advance S-350 missile defence system.

The video, with undated footage from a drone, shows a convoy of Russian military vehicles crossing an agricultural stretch of land. The video then zooms in at what appears to be launch vehicles of the S-350 surface-to-air missile defence systems. In the very next moment they are destroyed in a precision air strike resulting in plumes of smoke and dust.

The drone footage was shared with the Ukranian defence ministry by the Black Forest Brigade – an elite artillery reconnaissance arm of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The location coordinates and actual date of the claimed offensive was not revealed.

Destruction of a russian S-350 Vitiaz SAM system worth $135 million.

: Black Forest Brigade pic.twitter.com/5xdoW3PJgW

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) February 17, 2025

According the a report in the Kyiv Post, the elite Black Forest Brigade issued a statement along with the video in which it said “Thanks to the skillful actions of the reconnaissance men of the Chornyi Lis (Black Forest) Artillery Reconnaissance Brigade, we have managed to detect and destroy Russia’s latest short- and medium-range S-350 Vityaz anti-aircraft missile system.”

If found true, this will be a major achievement for the Ukrainian military and an even bigger embarrassment for Russia, which prides over its “virtually impenetrable” air defence systems like the S-300, S-350, and S-400.

RUSSIA’S ADVANCED S-350 AIR DEFENCE SYSTEM

The S-350 air defence system is said to be the latest generation of Russian medium-range surface-to-air missile defence system. It is reportedly intended to replace the outdated S-300PS and the Buk-M1-2 systems in the Russian military.

Each unit of the S-350 air defence system reportedly costs more than $130 million and were inducted into the Russian military as recently as 2020. Each unit comprises of a mobile launcher which holds 12 missiles, an advanced multi-functional radar system, and a command post.

With a medium range of 120 kilometers the system is capable of deterring any incoming aerial threats from cruise missile, tactical ballistic missiles, drones, UAVs, military aircraft such as fighter jets and helicopters. They also have inbuilt AI systems which allow it to operate without human intervention while automatically tracking, detecting, and destroying all incoming threats.

CONCERNS FOR CHINA AND INDIA

The S-350 and the S-400 surface-to-air defence systems are both upgraded versions of the S-300. It is important to note that both India and China have in recent years procured large number of S-400 air defence systems.

The S-350 Vityaz, though not as advanced as the S-400, is still considered a highly capable deterrent system. While the S-350 is a medium-range system, the S-400 is long-range. The missiles in the S-350 are from the same family as that of the S-400, with range being the principal differentiating factor.

If Ukraine’s claim is indeed confirmed by Moscow, it will likely become a cause of concern for Beijing and New Delhi. So far, Russia has not responded to Ukraine’s video.
 

New Delhi:

The Sudarshan S-400 air defence missile system achieved a major success in a recent exercise where it ‘shot down’ 80 per cent of the ‘enemy’ fighter aircraft package while forcing others to retreat, aborting their missions.

The exercise was carried out by the Indian Air Force in a theatre where the force has deployed one of its squadrons of the long-range air defence missile system, defence sources told news agency ANI.

The exercise was conducted by the Indian Air Force to showcase full integration of air defence missile system into the force, they said.

During the exercise, real fighter aircraft were flying to test the capabilities of the S-400 weapon system, now called Sudarshan by the Indian Air Force after the mighty Sudarshan chakra of Lord Krishan.

The Sudarshan, ‘locking on and targeting’ in simulated action, could ‘shoot down’ 80 per cent of the ‘enemy’ offensive package.

The other remaining aircraft aborted their mission which was to ‘attack’ their targets within Indian territory and were intercepted by the air defence system.

The Indian Air Force has now fully integrated the system, whose three squadrons have already been inducted and two more are expected to be supplied in 2026.

The Indian side has requested that Russia expedite the delivery of the systems. The Indian side, during a high-level visit to Russia, also requested the Russian side deliver the system.

India and Russia signed an over Rs 35,000 crore deal for five squadrons of S-400. The Indian Air Force, which recently received the indigenous MR-SAM and Akash missile systems as well as the Israeli Spyder quick reaction surface-to-air missile systems, believes the S-400 will be a game changer for it.

The Indian Defence Acquisition Council recently cleared the procurement of the Indian Long Range Surface Air Missile System under Project Kusha. The development came after the project was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security.

The Indian Air Force, which recently received the indigenous MR-SAM and Akash missile systems as well as the Israeli Spyder quick reaction surface-to-air missile systems, believes the S-400 will be a game changer for it.

The Indian Air Force has significantly improved its air defence capabilities in recent years.

Air defence systems have been deployed in a big way by the Chinese military across the Line of Actual Control, while India has also deployed its own systems in a big way there.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)