- Ukraine said its unmanned systems units struck a Russian S-350 Vityaz air defense radar and Tor and Buk launchers in occupied areas of Donetsk region on January 1, according to Militarnyi.
- The reported losses include a 50N6E radar central to the S-350 system, reducing Russian air defense coverage in several front-line sectors.
Ukrainian forces confirmed on January 1, 2026, that operators from the Asgard Battalion of the 412th Nemesis Unmanned Systems Brigade struck a multifunction radar of Russia’s S-350 Vityaz air defense system and self-propelled launchers of the Tor and Buk systems on temporarily occupied territory in the Donetsk region.
As reported by Militarnyi, the strike targeted a 50N6E multifunction radar, a key component of the S-350 medium-range air defense system, along with at least one Tor surface-to-air missile launcher. The attack took place on January 1 in occupied areas of Donetsk Oblast, according to the outlet.
The 50N6E radar is central to the operation of the S-350 system. It is designed to automatically detect up to 100 aerial targets and simultaneously track up to eight targets for engagement. Russian officials have previously claimed that the S-350 is capable of countering different types of aerial threats from multiple directions at the same time.
According to manufacturer data cited in the report, the S-350 can engage aerodynamic targets at ranges of up to 60 kilometers and at altitudes of up to 30 kilometers. Russian sources also claim the system has the capability to intercept ballistic targets at ranges of up to 30 kilometers. The radar’s destruction reduces the operational effectiveness of the entire system, which relies on centralized target detection and tracking.
In addition to the January 1 strike in Donetsk Oblast, Militarnyi reported that on December 31, Ukrainian unmanned systems operators struck two more Russian air defense launchers within roughly one hour. The targets included Buk-M3 and Tor systems operating on the Huliaipole and Orikhiv axes.
The Buk-M3 is a medium-range air defense system used by Russian forces to protect ground units and rear-area assets from Ukrainian aircraft and other aerial threats. The system is capable of engaging aerodynamic targets at distances of up to 70 kilometers and at altitudes of up to 35,000 meters, allowing it to operate from positions well behind the front line.
The Tor-M2 system, also hit during the reported strikes, is a self-propelled short-range air defense platform designed for autonomous operation. It can independently detect and engage aerial targets at ranges of up to 16 kilometers and at altitudes of up to 10 kilometers. The vehicle carries a combat load of 16 vertically launched surface-to-air missiles and is operated by a three-person crew.
Militarnyi noted that disabling such systems directly affects Russian air defense coverage in specific sectors, reducing protection for ground forces and critical military infrastructure in occupied territories.