Ukrainian troops reportedly have destroyed a Russian S-400 “Triumf” (NATO: SA-21 “Growler”) air defense system in Russia’s Belgorod Oblast, with the complex reportedly worth up to $1 billion.
The S-400, considered Russia’s analogue to the US Patriot system, has a reported range of up to 380 kilometers (240 miles).
It is among the most advanced air defense systems in Russian service, apart from the newer S-500 systems that entered service in 2021.
“Lazar’s Group conducted an operation to detect and neutralize the air defense system together with the 429th Separate Brigade of Unmanned Systems ‘Achilles’ and the Joint Forces Group,” Ukraine’s National Guard said in a Telegram statement on Wednesday, March 4.
According to the report, aerial reconnaissance units from the 429th Brigade scouted Russian territory after joint analytical work and identified the missile system.
The information was then passed to the Lazar’s Group strike unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) unit.
“Our crews flew to the area of concentration of the S-400 ‘Triumph’ complex and delivered precise strikes. Thanks to this, we managed to significantly reduce the activity of Russian air defense in the Kharkiv direction,” the statement said.
A nearly minute-long video released by Ukrainian forces shows drones approaching what is described as the Russian air defense system, followed by the dropping of two munitions and a powerful explosion with visible fire. Kyiv Post was unable to independently verify the time and location of the footage.
According to Army Inform outlet, the cost of a full S-400 Triumf system is around $1 billion. However, a 2023 Newsweek report, citing an expert from the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), estimated that each S-400 battery costs approximately $200 million.
The S-400 replaced the Soviet-era S-300 in Russian service and was officially adopted in April 2007. Since its introduction, Russia has actively promoted the system for export, as per the Militarniy outlet report.
Russian state media have frequently described the S-400 as one of the most powerful air defense systems in the world. The manufacturer claims it is capable of intercepting strategic and tactical aircraft, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and other aerial threats, even under electronic countermeasures.
Open-source data suggest that by 2021, the S-400 had replaced about 70% of older S-300 systems in the Russian military, amounting to roughly 576 launchers.
A 2024 Newsweek report suggested that Russia had approximately 56 full S-400 systems by the early 2020s.
In its standard configuration, the S-400 retains the structural concept of the S-300, including a multifunctional early warning radar, separate launchers, and autonomous detection and targeting radars.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, S-400 systems have been deployed to protect Russian troops and strategic facilities in occupied territories, shielding them from Ukrainian aircraft, missile strikes, and reconnaissance and strike drones.
Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces (SSO) have previously reported strikes against S-400 systems. On Feb. 25, Special Ops said it destroyed key elements of an S-400 system and a Pantsir-S1 complex in the occupied Crimea, including a launcher and a 92N6E radar station.
SSO also reported striking an S-400 system in Russia’s Kaluga region on Sept. 5, 2025. According to the statement, operators detected the system during reconnaissance and transmitted targeting data, resulting in the destruction of a launcher and radar station.