On November 23, 2024, a precision strike targeted an S-400 air defense system in the village of Bolshoe Zhirovo, located in Russia’s Kursk region.
The missile strike reportedly destroyed key components of the S-400 system, including a radar station and two launchers, and resulted in the deaths of several high-ranking officers and technicians.
The strike was carried out using three ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) ballistic missiles. According to reports, the S-400 system was in a non-combat state undergoing maintenance and repairs at the time of the attack. The 92N6E radar station, an integral part of the S-400’s tracking and engagement system, was destroyed along with two missile launchers.
The strike also claimed the lives of five officers from the S-400 division, including the unit’s commander and chief of staff, as well as three employees from Almaz-Antey JSC, the defense contractor responsible for the development of the S-400 system. The names of the deceased officers are: Major Maxim Solodovnikov; Captain Sergey Zavorin; Senior Lieutenant Nikita Pechenkin; Senior Lieutenant Yusup Kodzoev; Lieutenant Aleksey Podlipalov.
First confirmed successful ATACMS strike on Russian soil. S-400 air defence system radar and two launchers were destroyed in the Kursk region of Russia on 23.11.2024:
«On November 23, 2024, a missile strike was carried out on the S-400 air defense system in the village of… pic.twitter.com/2aD1ZWNig5
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) November 25, 2024
The S-400 system, regarded as one of Russia’s most advanced air defense assets, is typically deployed to protect against a wide range of aerial threats, including aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. The fact that the system was targeted while undergoing repairs suggests an element of vulnerability that Ukrainian forces exploited effectively.
The use of ATACMS by Ukraine has long been a point of contention, with Russia warning of escalatory consequences if these precision-guided missiles were used against targets within its borders. With this latest attack, the strategic calculus on both sides may shift, potentially prompting changes in defensive postures and retaliation strategies.